Entertainer! Magazine - February 2020

PHX METRO » FEBRUARY 2020

A Inside Supermodel Erin Naas can't live without her Arabians

D-BACKS FAN FEST slides into Chase Field

SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULES

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

CONTENTS

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12

ON THE COVER

A Inside

Supermodel Erin Naas can’t live without her Arabians

DRAG RACING TO WIN

Matt Hagan looks to repeat at the NHRA Arizona Nationals

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26 A NEW BAG OF ‘TRIX’

Mark Gus Scott trades rock for power ballads

on the cover: Erin Naas Cover photo courtesy Christ Mortenson

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine

steve@entertainermag.com

Managing Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

christina@timespublications.com

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Assistant Editor Connor Dziawura

cdziawura@timespublications.com

designer

Shannon Mead

POUR THE BEER!

production manager Courtney Oldham

Cave Creek sets new festival for spring

production@timespublications.com

CONTENTS SPRING TRAINING IS HERE!

UPFRONT

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Read all about new players and the game schedules

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Top 25 • Arabian Horse Show • NHRA Matt Hagan • Renaissance Festival • Sedona Film Festival • William DuVallwell • NASCAR Experience • Natalie Merrill

CITY

22

Innings Festival • M3F • Mark Gus Scott • Renee Fleming

TRAVEL

30 32

64

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Dining Calendar • Persian New Year • Devour the World

BEER AND WINE

42

Beer and Wine Calendar • Off the Vine • Strong Beer Festival • Cave Creek Beer Festival

CASINOS

48

Casino Entertainment Calendar • Criss Angel

SPORTS

50

Sports Calendar • D-backs Fan Fest • Kole Calhoun • Madison Bumgarner • Spring Training Schedules

FAMILY

FOR HER

60 62

Live Music Calendar • Nellie McKay • Chris Lane • Eric Nam

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Staff Photographers

NIGHTLIFE Nightlife Calendar • Mad Mixologist

Elaine Campbell, Andrew Eccles, Maclay Heriot, Shervin Lainez, Rob Northway, Michael Patacsil, Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks, Randy Shaffer, Jason Siegel Photography, Samuel Silkworth, Timothy White ONE COPY PER READER

The Entertainer! is circulated throughout the Phoenix Metro area, especially concentrated in entertainment districts. ©2020 Affluent Publishing, LLC. A free online subscription is available to all readers simply by going to entertainermag.com/subscribe.

For calendar and news items, the deadline for submission is the 15th of the NOVEMBER prior to publication. Submissions are included based on available space and are used at the discretion of the editor. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations will not be returned unless it is specifically requested and submission is accompanied by a properly addressed envelope and sufficient postage. The Entertainer! makes every effort to authenticate claims and accurate times and event locations. We encourage readers to verify information prior to attending events or purchasing tickets.

Chris Lane has ‘big, big plans’ with Lauren Bushnell

Family Calendar • Cirque du Soleil

MUSIC

Writers

Alison Bailin Batz, Christopher Boan, Connor Dziawura, Sara Edwards, Jordan Houston, Laura Latzko, Haley Lorenzen, Carson Mlnarik, Randy Montgomery, Bridgette Redman, Octavio Serrano, Annika Tomlin

Contributing Photographers

Arts Calendar • Geri Wright • David Simmons and JK Simmons

DINING

Aaron Kolodny

aaron@entertainermag.com

Chris Mortenson, Pablo Robles

Snowy Destinations

ARTS

circulation director

66

IN CLOSING

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4.10.20

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TOP25 Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

“Americano!”

FEBRUARY 1 TO FEBRUARY 23 This musical follows Tony, a child of immigrants who realizes he’s undocumented after trying to enlist in the Marines. With everything he’s ever known thrown into question, Tony is forced to rethink his family, his heritage and his country in this heartwarming and human true story.

Phoenix Theatre, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, times vary, $41-$118.

Black Renaissance: “The History of Us”

FEBRUARY 6 February is Black History Month, and what better way to celebrate than a special program curated by black creatives? Black Renaissance, an Arizona art collective, uses tech and media to weave a tale reminding us of the past and future, highlighting black artists’ talents and accomplishments.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 7:30 p.m., $15.

Jackie Schimmel

FEBRUARY 6 To know irreverence and unfiltered commentary is to know Jackie Schimmel. The beloved and fiery host of “The B*tch Bible” podcast takes her show on the road with an off-the-deep-end evening dishing about reality TV, pop culture and millennial life. This one is not for the easily offended!

Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix. standuplive.com, $35-$85.

Dashboard Confessional

FEBRUARY 7 Dashboard Confessional celebrates 20 years of emo rock goodness with an anniversary tour. Expect to hear cuts from the group’s latest offering, “Crooked Shadows,” as well as the hits we know and love,

like “Hands Down” and “Vindicated.”

Piebald will open the show.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx. com, 7:30 p.m., $35-$38.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Houston Rockets

FEBRUARY 7 The Phoenix Suns have brought the heat this season, and all eyes will be on them as they square off against the Houston Rockets once more.

While they didn’t emerge victorious in their previous outings this season against the Rockets, they have home court advantage and the Arizona sun on their side this time around.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, talkingstickresortarena. com, 7 p.m., $29-$688.

Indie Film Fest

FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 9 Support the filmmakers on the fringes with this inclusive gathering of creative storytellers and diverse perspectives. Featuring dramatic and documentary features, shorts, music videos, VR experiences and workshops, this three-day event has quickly become one of the freshest festivals on the circuit.

FilmBar, 815 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.595.9187, theindiefilmfest.com, times vary, $25 opening night and $15-$50 per screening.

UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m., $36-$42.

Smosh: Try Not to Laugh Live FEBRUARY 9 Since the early days of YouTube, Smosh has dominated the internet with its hilarious sketch comedy and gimmicks. In honor of its 15th anniversary, co-founder Ian Hecox ventures out IRL with Courtney Miller, Damien Hass and Shayne Topp for their first tour.

Expect to hear new songs, witness local food ratings and laugh a lot. VIP entry includes a meetand-greet photo, autographed poster and special merch.

Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix.standuplive.com, 7 p.m., $40-$140.

Stray Kids

FEBRUARY 9 You don’t find K-pop, K-pop finds you. Korean pop octet Stray Kids have made a splash in the United States and across the globe with its hip-hop and electronic influences and showstopping dance performances.

Their District 9: Unlock world tour, which finds the group performing tracks from its “Clé” series, swings through Phoenix for one night.

Arizona Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, arizonafederaltheatre.com, 7:30 p.m., $72-$183.

Nellie McKay

FEBRUARY 8 With a silky, charming voice and quirky tunes, Nellie McKay has carved out a niche for herself in music. Her sound and cutting wit harken back to a different era while maintaining the social consciousness of today’s world. Her tracks have appeared on soundtracks for “Mad Men,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Sister Orchid is set to open.

“Harry Potter” Trivia

FEBRUARY 12 Still waiting on your Hogwarts acceptance letter? We can’t guarantee your admission, but you can become a prefect in your own right with this special “Harry Potter” trivia night. With more than $1,000 in prizes, participants can either play solo or as a team, putting their Potter

cinema knowledge to the test. As Luna Lovegood said, “Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure!”

Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.921.9877, tempeimprov.com, 8 p.m., $5.

“The Bachelor” Live on Stage

FEBRUARY 13 The drama, gossip and romance of “The Bachelor” comes to Arizona with this special fan party hosted by show alums Ben Higgins and Becca Kufrin. Local ladies in the audience will have the chance to vie for the heart of one eligible Arizona bachelor. You can get ahead on your wine drinking for the night with a special preshow dinner at Alliance Terrace for an additional $25.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7:30 p.m., $40-$80 and $150 VIP.

Dolla Dolla Dance Party

FEBRUARY 14 If your Valentine’s Day is looking a little lame, we’ve got a deal for you! Blunt Club, Arizona’s longestrunning hip-hop party, will pay you to party at the first Dolla Dolla Dance Party. Attendees will receive $1 to dance to the best beats from DJs like Pickster and Tricky T, with live art, drink specials and photo ops.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx.com, 10 p.m., free with online reservations.

Crush Arizona

FEBRUARY 14 Grab your crush and get ready to party at Arizona’s premier EDM celebration of the season.

Featuring performances from Audien, Carbin, Habstrakt, Jauz and Tynan, this annual Valentine’s Day party is for the lover in all of us.

Rawhide Event Center, 5244 S. 48th Street, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide. com, 6 p.m., $49-$1500.

Jonny Lang

FEBRUARY 14 Grammy Award-winning blues musician Jonny Lang has garnered a reputation as a real-life guitar hero since releasing his first platinum album at age 15. Having shared the stage with artists like B.B. King and Aerosmith, his unique and passionately performed tunes

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

like “Lie to Me” and “Before You Hit the Ground” have made his live act one not to be missed.

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m., $38-$78.

Angry Crab Shack Southwest Cajun Fest

FEBRUARY 15 This day-long Chandler festival is all about the heart and soul of New Orleans, with a bit of Arizona flavor.

Celebrating Cajun culture, cuisine and beer, the fest guarantees plenty of tasty catfish and crawfish, as well as live jazz, blues and swing performances, eating competitions, and a kids’ zone. You might want to break out the bib for this one!

Dr. AJ Chandler Park, 250 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2727, southwestcajunfest.com, noon to 9 p.m., $8-$55.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

FEBRUARY 21 It might be winter, but it’s never too early for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The Southwest Shakespeare Company presents the classic rom-com in the forest as lovers entangle with fairies, magic and theater in a romp that has to be seen to be believed.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, times vary, $38-$48 and $13 for ages 25 and younger.

Mesa Bazaar: Artisan Market Totally ’80s Live

FEBRUARY 21 We can’t go back to the ‘80s, but we can sure try! “Only the Lonely” will miss out on this blast from the past as The Motels, Bow Wow Wow and When in Rome hit the stage.

You can relive the days of cheesy pop, big hair and shoulder pads, and that’s “The Promise,” but you might want to bring your own candy!

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx. com, 7:30 p.m., $25-$28.

Steve-O Sweets Festival

FEBRUARY 15 If you’ve got a sweet tooth and $7, you’re in luck! Gilbert’s Sweets Festival is here for sucrose cravings big and small, with sweet servings for the whole family. Whether you’re in the mood for cotton candy tacos, fudge, shakes or cakes, or if you’re looking for some 21-andolder options like donuts and drafts or craft cocktails, there’s a treat to eat. The fest will also host live music, photo ops, a kids’ zone, and savory options for balance.

Gilbert North Civic Center Campus, 50 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $7 and free for kids 12 and younger.

FEBRUARY 21 AND FEBRUARY 22 Steve-O did whatever it took to become famous—even if it meant being a bit of a “jackass.” Now in his 40s, he’s sober and dedicated to tackling his outlandish stunt bucket list. Part multimedia, part performance, Steve-O uses his Bucket List Tour to showcase his new larger-than-life stunts—and the emotional distress they’ve been causing his fiancée!

Copper Blues Live, Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, 602.910.5161, cblive.com, times vary, $30-$55.

Arizona Roots

FEBRUARY 22 AND FEBRUARY 23 The Arizona Roots arts and music festival returns for a second year

REAL GOLD. REAL

Burger.

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of show-stopping performances, provocative art pieces and green initiatives. Get ready to rejoice in the good vibes with this year’s headliners, including Damian Marley, Rebelution, Steel Pulse and Collie Buddz.

The Riverwalk at Rawhide Western Town, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide. com, noon, $109-$629.

tells the story of an ogre leaving his swamp to save a princess.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7 p.m., $32-$34 adults, $29-$31 seniors and students, and $8 children 13 and under.

Brazilian Carnaval

FEBRUARY 28 We dare you to try and stay still during this exquisite showcase of Brazilian dance, performance and tradition. Professional samba dancers will show off their hypnotizing footwork and choreography in authentic costume alongside Brazilian Carnaval drums, even taking the party outside with a stomp-worthy parade.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx. com, 8 to 11 p.m., $15-$20.

FEBRUARY 22 This free artisan market is all about keeping it local, featuring handmade items ranging from art to jewelry to home décor. Here, you can find your new favorite tchotchke, enjoy craft beer and cocktails from local spots like Downtown 12 West and Iconic Cocktail, and top it off with a ring around the food trucks.

Downtown Mesa, 1 N. MacDonald, Mesa, bit.ly/2Rcyy2C, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free.

Travis Tritt

FEBRUARY 23 It’s a great day to be alive! Grammy Award-winning country musician Travis Tritt swings by Mesa Arts Center for an intimate solo show, letting the tunes do the talking with acoustic renditions of his biggest hits like “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and “Best of Intentions,” in between personal stories and anecdotes.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7 p.m., $36-$66.

“Shrek: The Musical”

FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 1 If animated fairytale-with-a-twist “Shrek” is a constant fixture in your household, you’re going to love this musical adaptation. With larger-than-life sets, magical puppetry and plenty of laughs, this

Innings Festival

FEBRUARY 29 TO MARCH 1 There’s no time in Arizona quite like Spring Training, and for the past few years, the Innings Festival has been the ultimate destination for baseball fans and music lovers.

This year’s line-up is a who’s who of alt-rock faves like Dave Matthews Band, Portugal. The Man, Weezer and Death Cab for Cutie. MLB players like Jake Peavy, Bret Saberhagen and Rick Sutcliffe will also make appearances.

Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, inningsfestival.com, times vary, $99-$1,200.

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Celebrating Years!

The BEST independent films from around the world!

Celebrities • Filmmakers • Parties • Workshops • Much more!

February 22-March 1, 2020

www.SedonaFilmFestival.org

928.282.1177

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

A Inside

Model Erin Naas can’t live without her Arabian horses Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

E

rin Naas was born obsessed with horses.

From the time she could walk or talk, Naas and her mom attended Mommy and Me riding lessons in her home state of California.

“I would ride sassy, little bad ponies and she would trot along next to us, leading me,” says Naas with a laugh.

“That’s how I started, and I’ve ridden ever since.”

A supermodel and actress, Naas has shown horses and competed throughout her years in Los Angeles and North Scottsdale, where she currently resides.

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Her love is Arabian horses.

Horse owners like Naas will show their Arabians at the 65th annual Arabian Horse Show from Thursday, February 13, to Sunday, February 23, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

The show brings to WestWorld more than 2,400 Arabian horses, all of whom will vie for the title of Scottsdale Champion, with more than $3 million in prize money handed out.

The horse show is a rite of passage for Taryl O’Shea, who is in her 22nd year as the executive director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, which hosts the event. Last year’s edition drew 302,600 patrons, generating $98 million in economic impact, according to O’Shea.

“I think it’s shocking to a lot of people the impact that the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has on the community,” O’Shea says.

“When they look at events like the Waste Management Open and BarrettJackson, they don’t realize that the horse show, it’s 11 days. But the horses come in a week prior to the start of the horse show to acclimate, because they come from all over the world.

“Which means that people are renting homes or staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, shopping in our stores.”

O’Shea believes the 2020 version of the event, which features more than 350 booths full of unique items, ranging from saddles to gifts, artwork and trinkets, is a can’t-miss attraction for horse enthusiasts of all ages.

“It’s just a really big, versatile horse show that people love to come and just see all the things these horses can do,” O’Shea says. “Arabian horses are the oldest known breed of domesticated horse in the world and a lot of other breeds are derived from them. So, you’ve got collectors that appreciate the history, the beauty and the versatility of the breed.

“So, this horse has a magnetic appeal to many cultures and many people because of the story that it tells throughout the ages.”

The tie between Arabian horses and Scottsdale runs deep, according to O’Shea, with families like the Wrigleys

and the Chaunceys bringing the breed to the desert almost a century ago.

O’Shea delved into a brief history of the breed and its path to the Wild West, tracing back to a surplus of horses owned by the Polish government that were sold to several families in the area.

“It’s a long story, but basically Arabians are a breed that hail from the desert,” she says. “And so, when the horses were brought here, they acclimated to Scottsdale and the desert very well. It was kind of a no-brainer for these other families to start buying and importing these horses.”

Fast forward a century, and that relationship is still going strong, with the annual horse show being the main outlet to showcase the breed.

O’Shea says she expects high rollers from as far away as Australia and the Middle East to jet-set to Scottsdale Airport, where their various private jets will be parked during their stay in the desert.

The event is for everyone. General admission tickets are $10, with $7 admission for seniors and military, and no cost for children younger than 12.

There will be a host of free activities to entertain younger patrons, such as ice cream socials, ceramic horse painting, art contests, barn tours and, of course, opportunities to meet Arabian horses.

There’s something for everybody at the February festival, according to O’Shea, speaking to the tenets that have kept her

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

with the organization for more than two decades.

“What I love most about my role is that I get to sit on committees and work with the Tourism Advisory Commission in attracting people to Scottsdale,” O’Shea says. “I think our show is only one factor that helps drive tourism here in Scottsdale. So, I’m proud of that. But these horses, they’re just amazing.”

ARABIAN BEAUTIES Naas acquired her first Arabian when she was 10. It was a riding horse. At 17, she bought a mare with the money she made from modeling around the world.

Naas has modeled for Victoria’s Secret, Maxim and Sports Illustrated, and starred in commercials for Pepsi. She appeared on Howie Mandel’s “Deal or No Deal.”

Naas loves the beauty of Arabian horses, whom she keeps on a sprawling ranch in North Scottsdale with her husband, Jay Grdina.

“I love the history of the breed,” Naas says. “I love the relationship they develop with their owner or caretaker. They are very personal horses. When you develop a bond with an Arabian, it’s different than any other horse. I just fell in love with the mystery and the mystique around them.”

Naas studied the pedigrees, the history and how the breed has evolved. Her reading material of choice as a child was Arabian Horse World Magazine.

A breeder bequeathed Naas her entire magazine collection from the ’50s onward.

“They were like giant manuals just filled with all of the breeds,” Naas says.

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“I learned what to look for and what made a great Arabian. I started reading those when I was probably 7.”

Naas says the Scottsdale show is special because there are multiple arenas with different disciplines simultaneously vying for titles.

The vendors are just as striking.

“They have anything you can think of like amazing clothing and beautiful coats,” Naas says.

“Then there’s beautiful tack horse equipment and supplies.

“It’s really a horse-lover’s dream.

The horses are set free in the arena to music and the audience goes crazy for their favorite horse. In the Liberty class, the horses are electrifying, and their tails are flagging and their nostrils are flaring. It’s definitely an exciting breed.

“Arabians really draw in people who have maybe never been around horses or aren’t familiar with horses. They don’t just stand there with their heads down.

They are alert and excitable, yet also kind and manageable. It’s really a unique breed with a fire in them.”

Arabian Horse Show WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, scottsdaleshow.com, various times Thursday, February 13, to Sunday, February 23, tickets start at $10.

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Matt Hagan looks to repeat at the NHRA Arizona Nationals Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

M

att Hagan has raced throughout the country, but the Valley is one of the few places he feels

comfortable.

“I love the Scottsdale area. I’d even consider getting a winter home there,” Hagan says. “I’ve got a lot of love for that. Everything has a good feel to it.

I like the Native American feel. I’m a quarter Cherokee Indian. I love going in the airport and buying jewelry and different things like that.”

He’s returning to the Valley Friday, February 21, to Sunday, February 23, for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler. Hagan (funny car), Billy Torrence (top fuel) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (pro stock) raced to victories at this event last year. Fans will see 11,000 horsepower nitro cars coursing through the track and the sophisticated pro stock class during the NHRA Arizona Nationals. They can also meet their NHRA stars, including the likes of John Force, Antron Brown and Erica Enders.

Hagan was an all-around athlete at Auburn High School, where he was a

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defensive lineman and all-district center on the Eagles football team. In the spring, he was the school’s catcher on the baseball team. He attended Radford University for four years and majored in recreation, parks and tourism.

Hagan has been racing for almost half his life. Starting on his family’s quads as a teenager in Virginia, he developed a passion for speed and the thrill of

competition to move into circle-track, stock car racing. From there, he began bracket drag racing and later made a splash in Pro Mod, earning the 2006 Rookie of the Year honor in the NHRA AMS Pro Mod Challenge.

Hagan and the MOPAR Express Lane/ Pennzoil/Sandvik Coromant Dodge Funny Car team, led by crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen, wasted no time putting together a competitive 2019 campaign.

At the second event of the season, Hagan powered his Dodge Charger to victory and took home a Wally trophy for the 30th time in his career. The win also marked 150 Funny Car victories for Don Schumacher Racing.

In his free time, Hagan spends time with his wife, Rachel, with whom he has four children—Colby, Penny, Tucker and Nelly. He is an avid hunter and loves spending early mornings in a tree stand on his property hunting for deer and takes a couple trips each year out of state to hunt deer and ducks. If his bounty is too much for family and friends to consume, he shares the meat with groups helping the unemployed around his Virginia home.

“I also farm a lot,” he says. “I have a 2,000-acre, 600-head cattle farm in Virginia. I enjoy it. It keeps me humble. I work, get my hands dirty and build some callouses. I live this rock star life—go, go, go—with adrenaline-driven fans, TV and sponsors. I come back home and turn all that off. I drive the tractor 5 miles an hour. It’s like yin and yang.”

He enjoys winning, but everything that comes with touring on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is exhausting.

“The travel wears on you—the hotel and all that kind of stuff,” he says.

“I was gone 180 days last year. I’m 37 years old and in the pinnacle of my sport. What other sport gives you an adrenaline rush at this age? Most people in other sports have retired at my age.

“The competition and the drive to win keeps me going. I was named Driver of the Decade by MotorTrend. I put myself around good people, so good things happen. They don’t want to let me down.

It’s pretty amazing.”

In his 11th year with Don Schumacher Racing, Hagan is inspired by his father, David, who owns Shelor Motor Mile new car dealerships and the Motor Mile Speedway short track and drag strip, as well Matt Hagan Outdoors locations in Radford, Virginia, and Blacksburg, Virginia.

The first Matt Hagan Outdoors store opened in December 2013 in Radford, near Hagan’s home in Christiansburg, Virginia, and success led to moving to a larger location a year later and opening a second location in 2016.

“My dad owns 42 companies,” he says. “I own an outdoor store, a cattle farm, a hemp farm. I race. I have four kids and he makes me look like a chump.

I take lessons from him. He’s a great leader and really cares about people. I just sit back, watch, learn and listen.”

NHRA Arizona Nationals Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 2000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler, 1.800.884.6472, nhra.com, various times Friday, February 21, to Sunday, February 23, tickets start at $34.

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Performers show their unique skills at Renaissance Festival Connor Dziawura >> The Entertainer!

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enaissance fairs around the nation are breeding grounds for people with interesting talents. From unique skills to thrilling performances, these popular events tap the best they can find in medieval entertainment.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival— open Saturdays and Sundays from February 8 to March 29, as well as on Presidents Day, Monday, February 17— is no exception.

This year’s docket includes Adam “Crack” Winrich, who developed a skill working with flaming whips; The Angels, who fuse their vocal talents with the thrill of sword-fighting, all put through a comedic lens; Cirque du Sewer, the acrobat with rats and cats;

The Danseries, a historical dance crew; and The Jousters.

Quick thinking has been handy to performer Terry Foy, better known as Zilch the Torysteller, who will return for this year’s festivities. Known as a master of spoonerisms and storytelling, Foy has a knack for reconstructing words on the spot.

“If you’re doing a whole story like ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ it comes out, ‘Rittle Led Hiding Rood, the gittle lirl in the ced roat, went out for a falk in the worest, met a wig wad bolf,’ and so on and so on and so on,” he explains.

The term “spoonerism,” he says, is named after 19th and 20th century Oxford don William Archibald Spooner, who was known for this “art of switching,” as Foy identifies it. Using his mastery of the skill, Foy tells other tales such as “Parunzel” and Spilliam Wakesheare’s “Jomeo & Ruliet.” He

Terry Foy is Zilch the Torysteller, a master of spoonerisms and storytelling.

mixes in music, too, and is experienced with mandolin. He has also played viola, violin and guitar.

“I found out when I was 12 years old that I had a facility for this citching of swonsonants,” he says, adding that with practice, “I’ve been able to put these stories together and use my rather odd sense of humor to present a comedy routine.”

He credits elementary English for teaching him about spoonerisms, malapropisms and pig Latin, as does he his dad, who loved comedian Archie Campbell on “Hee Haw.” Campbell has done spoonerisms.

“I’m not the first; I won’t be the last to do this kind of thing,” Foy says. “I happen to be pretty good at it.”

TALENTED BUNCH

Robby Sinkler plays Lord Robert Chessman, the queen's royal falconer.

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Modeled as a 30-acre, 16th century European village, the Arizona Renaissance Festival has 14 stages boasting talented acts like Foy. Medieval enthusiasts can wander the festival grounds and check out all sorts of other performances, activities and arts and crafts, maybe even picking up a turkey leg along the way.

As is tradition, the king and queen will be paramount to the yearly festivities.

Robby Sinkler knows this all too well, as he serves as Lord Robert Chessman, the queen’s royal falconer.

Festivalgoers can check out his Art of Falconry show. In this show, which he calls a “family affair,” he is aided by his wife, his daughter and local volunteers.

Together, they work with a variety of birds of prey—from eagles to owls, vultures and falcons—showing their natural behaviors while explaining the medieval history of falconry.

This includes flying over the audience,

or even just groundwork. In one display, Sinkler has a vulture trained to spot a particular egg based on its color; in another he demonstrates an eagle’s speed with an amphitheater fly-by.

“We don’t have them ride a bicycle or anything like that, like you might see in a parrot show,” he says with a laugh. “It’s really a close encounter of animals that you usually see at a distance.”

Sinkler heads up Wild Sky Productions, through which he acquires birds from zoos, rehabilitation centers and captive-breeding projects. He

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says his organization is a last resort for nonreleasable birds.

“They may have handicaps or mental disabilities,” he admits. “Depending on the year, there’s a lot of different types of birds we might work with.”

The Florida native and 30-plusyear falconer remembers gaining an appreciation for animals from his father at a young age, before doing zoo work in college. There he learned about falconry and birds of prey. He first signed on to a Renaissance festival gig around 25 years ago, at the Georgia one.

Wild Sky has also worked with theme parks and other attractions, with wildlife celebrities like Jack Hanna and Jim Fallor, and on music videos and movies.

“It’s such a unique opportunity,” Sinkler says. “For me, it’s (the appeal) bringing the wilderness to a unique type of venue where we get up-close and meet a lot of people. We actually—at the end of every show—have a meetand-greet and we take pictures with the guests, and it’s an opportunity to hear stories.”

Just as he loves sharing his knowledge with audiences—he tries to make it a “positive experience” and even talks about conservation—he loves hearing from audience members about their own experiences with birds and other wildlife.

“I think it’s (the appeal) about meeting the guests and really making that connection so that they have a greater appreciation of the wildlife,” he says.

For Foy, who is also a teacher, Renaissance festival work is a lifestyle.

He says he has been performing in Arizona since 1989, but he got his start in Minnesota in 1975.

“Like many kids who were interested in theater when in high school, my friends and I heard an audition notice on a radio station and went, ‘Renaissance festival? Hey, we’ve been there! Let’s try it!’” he recalls. “There were three of us who went to go audition together, and one fellow saw what the audition entailed and went, ‘Nope, I’m out of here,’ and the other two of us auditioned and got hired.”

He eventually branched out beyond his initial one in Minnesota, and he’s a busy man for it. He expects to visit states like Texas, Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota and North Carolina by next Thanksgiving.

While he can’t speak as to why festivalgoers are drawn to his performances—aside from those who have told him they feel smarter after checking out a show—he says his own personal appeal is entertaining others.

“I have always been a laugh junkie,” he says. “To get people laughing has always been sort of my reason for living. It’s what makes life worth living.”

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As is tradition, The Jousters will battle.

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CELEBRATING THE BEST IN FILM UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Sedona festival honors Rob Reiner and Leslie Uggams Jordan Houston >> The Entertainer!

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irector Josh Aronson knew his latest documentary, “To Be of Service,” might not appeal to everyone. In his heart, he felt it needed to be done.

The award-winning director’s 88-minute independent film, which will be featured in this year’s Sedona International Film Festival, chronicles the complex stories of war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the healing powers of their service dogs.

“To Be of Service” explores how America neglects a deep obligation to assimilate soldiers back into civilian society, Aronson explains, while challenging political leaders to think of solutions outside of war.

“It’s not designed for a wide audience or mainstream audiences of people going to movies looking for entertainment,” he says. “It’s not a nice, feel-good date movie. It will take you to places you’ve likely never been before.”

After years of substance abuse, suicide attempts, talk therapy and prescription medications, Aronson shows how 11 Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans gain back their independence and emotion through four-legged companionships with highly trained service dogs.

The director, known for his Oscarnominated documentary “Sound of Fury,” says he hopes his new piece will inspire viewers to support legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund service dogs as treatment for PTSD. The only avenues for elder vets to secure their lifelong pets are through “extraordinary personal effort” and scholarship programs.

“These dogs are trained and have specific commands,” Aronson says. “But the most important part of the healing is the 24-7, one-on-one relationship that begins to feel like unconditional love—from dog to the vet, and the vet to the dog.”

“No matter the shame or guilt, the dog is there and loves you,” he continues.

“To Be of Service” is just one of more than 160 independent films to be showcased at the 26th annual Sedona International Film Festival, which runs from Saturday, February 22, to Sunday, March 1.

Coming off a record-breaking year, SIFF will launch its next quarter century with nine days of compelling films, workshops, events and special guests.

But it’s films like Aronson’s, says SIFF Executive Director Patrick Schweiss, that make the crowd-drawing event so exceptional.

“It’s this really wonderful gathering of the film industry. People get to see films they wouldn’t normally get to see,” he says.

“They’re either brand-new indie films that haven’t made it to the theater yet or films that might not ever.”

Cinephiles will have the chance to delve into an array of features, shorts, documentaries, animation, foreign and student films carefully selected from a pool of 1,400.

Through the work of a 30-member screening committee comprised of “all walks of life,” the festival assures quality cinematography, acting, screenplay and, most importantly, storytelling.

“When we watch, we ask, ‘Are you inspired or entertained? Are you angered, or are you moved in some way?

Is it emotional?’” Schweiss explains. “We seek to bring awareness, understanding and culture through film, and to unify people and open dialogue.”

Among the films selected for screening this year are three documentaries nominated for the Academy Award for

"HOW ABOUT ADOLF"

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"THE KEEPER"

Best Documentary Feature: “For Sama,” “The Cave” and “Honeyland,” as well as the Oscar-shortlisted Best International Film contenders “Those Who Remained” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”

On opening day, the festival will celebrate Black History Month with a tribute to actress and singer Leslie Uggams at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.

The nod will include clips from the iconic TV series “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel, in which Uggams earned Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance as Kizzy.

Former “Roots” co-star Kim Fields, also known for her nine-year stint as “Tootie” on the NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life,” will join as a special guest.

“We’re honoring Alex Haley’s life and the impact it had on America, on society and on understanding the plight of the African American person and family,” Schweiss says.

Actress and singer Lainie Kazan will return to the festival that same day to introduce the 2019 film “Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog,” written and directed by Lynn Roth.

Based on Asher Kravitz’s awardwinning Israeli novel “The Jewish Dog,” the film tells the story of Kaleb, a beloved German Shepherd who gets separated from his family during the Nuremberg Laws in WWII Berlin.

On February 28, festivalgoers can scope out a special presentation by Bella Gaia, a NASA-powered immersive experience.

The live concert, which mixes music, dance and interstellar imagery, was inspired by astronauts who spoke of the life-changing power of seeing Earth from space, Schweiss says.

Emmy-winning and Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director and producer Rob Reiner—responsible for smash hits like “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “Stand By Me”—will receive the festival’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on February 29.

Dubbed as having one of the longest and most golden runs in film-directing history, Reiner is being recognized for his work both in front of and behind the camera, says Schweiss, and for

his commitment to the art of indie filmmaking.

“It’s really for someone who has had significant contributions to world and art of independent filmmaking,” he says. “Rob is a well-known actor but has become very accomplished behind the camera, directing some of the biggest films in the last two generations.”

A special screening of Reiner’s Oscarnominated film “The American President,” a romantic comedy about a widowed U.S. president running for re-election falling in love with an environmental lobbyist, will also be play in his honor.

For those interested in learning more about the ins and the outs of the industry, “Game of Thrones” writer Bryan Cogman will headline the week of workshops and roundtables.

A final listing of all the films and showtimes will be announced at the end of the month.

All-access and priority passes are available through the organization’s website at sedonafilmfestival.org.

Platinum All-Access Priority Passes include access to all festival activities, films, events and parties as well as priority seating.

The price for SIFF members is $1,193 and $1,325 for nonmembers.

Holders will be able to select films beginning at 9 a.m. February 3, while 10- and 20-ticket pass holders can select films beginning February 10.

Individual tickets, $15, go on sale to the general public on February 17.

Sedona International Film Festival Harkins Sedona 6 Theatre, 2081 W. State Route 89A, Mary D. Fisher Theatre, 2030 W. Highway 89A Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road Various times Saturday, February 22, to Sunday, March 1 Individual tickets, $15, go on sale to the general public on February 17; packages available sedonafilmfestival.com

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Alice in Chains’ frontman William DuVall goes acoustic on new tour Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

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s the lead singer of Alice in Chains, William DuVall is used to singing for a raucous crowd. This winter, he’s touring behind his solo album, “One Alone,” is really hopes fans take a listen. He comes to Valley Bar on Thursday, February 20.

“It’s a really cool and intimate kind of show,” DuVall says. “It lends itself to listening. I’ve been playing a lot of listening rooms.

“This show is designed for the audience to come and really listen, particularly if they’re familiar with the album already. People are coming in predisposed to introspection.”

Many times, fans are willing to share their emotions with DuVall.

“They’re coming with a lot of pent-up emotions that, perhaps, the album has helped them deal with,” DuVall shares. “They come to deal with those emotions even further with the show. I’ve had a lot of people sharing the stories about what’s happening in their lives.”

The shows aren’t all weepy, though. At DuVall’s Indianapolis show, a fan proposed to his girlfriend on stage.

“Each night it’s different,” he says. “We’ll see what Phoenix has in store.”

He occasionally slides in an Alice in Chains song (“Never Fade”) or a cover. Past shows have included songs by David Bowie and Aerosmith as well as Dionne Farris’ 1995 hit “I know,” which was written

by DuVall and Milton Davis.

“This show focuses on the ‘One Alone’ album and it’s

solo acoustic,” DuVall says. “I did a snippet of a tune I wrote many years ago for Dionne Farris that was a major pop hit in 1995. We were just passing the 25th anniversary of that release of that album, ‘Wild Seed – Wild Flower.’ It’s just a really cool and intimate kind of show.”

“One Alone” is DuVall’s debut solo release and marks a new chapter in his career. The critically acclaimed 11-track album shows DuVall’s powerful voice with nothing but an acoustic guitar to back it. The lead single, “‘Til the Light Guides Me Home,” yielded more than 166,000 views.

This leg of the tour will take DuVall through the United States, Europe and Russia. Last month, he released a live video of the song “Smoke and Mirrors,” which was recorded at Holly Lane Studios.

Now was the perfect time for “One Alone,” he explains.

“I’ve done a whole lot of work of a certain type over the last couple decades or so,” DuVall says. “It’s mostly been this electric music that comes at you in a certain way. It’s fairly dynamic and pretty aggressive. It’s all that certain kind of electric rock music.

“I felt it was time for something completely different.

It also felt like it was time to finally start releasing music under my own name. The music on ‘One Alone’ lends itself to being a solo show. I felt like this was the time to conquer all of those hurdles.”

William DuVall Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.268.3121, valleybarphx.com, bit.ly/ wdphx, 8 p.m. Thursday, February 20, $20.

SAVE THE DATE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Restaurants help by donating a percentage of their proceeds to the Chandler Center for the Arts on that day. You help by eating at one or more of the participating restaurants.

Donations raised support the Center’s free arts programs, serving more than 16,800 individuals, including 5,400 youth.

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Innings Festival returns to Tempe for baseball-centric fun Christopher Boan >> The Entertainer!

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lineup of baseball and rock music descends upon Tempe Town Lake in late February for the third iteration of Innings

Festival.

Slated for Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1, Innings Festival features acts like Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Portugal. The Man, Death Cab for Cutie, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and more.

Atlanta-based festival director Tim Sweetwood long envisioned an event that combined the hoopla of the Cactus League with the glitz and glamor of a music festival.

Sweetwood and C3 Presents set out to create the festival several years ago, assembling a roster of players and bands to take the stage at the first event in 2018.

Fast-forward three years, and Sweetwood believes the festival has become a mainstay for Arizonans and baseball nuts.

“We have a really good round of artists coming in, led by Dave Matthews and Weezer, to go with having even more player involvement than we’ve had before,” Sweetwood says. “So, it kind of brings together the full vision of the festival.”

An avid baseball fan, Sweetwood says his team was surprised by the enthusiasm for Spring Training in Arizona.

That love inspired Sweetwood and his team to create a unique festival that incorporates the best elements of both pastimes.

The result is a convergence of the two, with batting cages and a virtual homerun derby interwoven into the stages and incredible voltage that such festivals require.

“I realized how many hundreds of thousands of people come to town to watch this, and I thought one of the things missing was entertainment,” Sweetwood says. “So, that’s kind of where the vision for the event came from, was, let’s give those fans that are coming to town some entertainment to go along with (Spring Training) and then local residents can come as well.”

Innings Fest is unlike other large music events in that the sets do not overlap. Bands take the stage at different

times. Such a feat allows festivalgoers to take in all the musicians, without having to worry about splitting time between

stages.

Sweetwood also gives fans the chance to meet athletes such as former San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Peavy and Hall of Famers like Trevor Hoffman and Jim Thome.

Former D-backs Luis Gonzalez and Miguel Montero will also take part.

“If you’re a baseball fan, there’s a possibility to touch these legends of baseball. And from a musical standpoint, we’re not forcing someone to buy a ticket to the whole weekend,” Sweetwood says.

A DREAM COMES TRUE One such act that’ll take the stage in Tempe is Philadelphia-based quintet Dr. Dog. Drummer Eric Slick is stoked to play Innings Fest, given his lifelong love of the Philadelphia Phillies. Slick is looking

forward to shooting the breeze with former Phillies pitcher Ryan Dempster, who will be in attendance, in addition to former Philadelphia mainstays, like Aaron Rowand and Thome.

Slick says various members of Dr. Dog have made attending Phillies Spring Training games in Florida an annual pastime.

Such dedication to the sport gives the band added reason to jump at the opportunity to play in Tempe, as they’ll be able to rub elbows with some of the game’s greatest players.

“We’re all such big baseball fans,” Slick says. “We’ve actually written a song for the Phillie Phanatic. So, it’s going to be fun.”

Slick, whose favorite baseball player is former Phillies first baseman John Kruk, is excited to add to the short but storied history of Innings Fest.

Slick believes the band, which is on the road in support of its 2018 album, “Critical Equation,” will be in fine form

by Innings Fest.

“It’ll be our last show of the tour and it will be a well-oiled machine by that point,” Slick says. “And the song choices for this tour are going to be really weird and different. And so, anybody who’s seen a Dr. Dog show, it’s going to be a handful of songs that they haven’t heard in a really long time, and it’s going to be a blast.”

HITTING THEIR STRIDE The excitement Slick has is shared

by Sweetwood and his team, given the stacked lineup of acts and players on this year’s lineup.

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Sweetwood says organizers try to choose artists who love baseball.

One such example is Isbell, who is a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan, adding an extra element to the band’s set.

“We try to see if they’re really into baseball, because if they are, then we can get them involved in different contests or competitions that are going on,” Sweetwood says. “So, that’s just an added feature of what’s going on.”

Sweetwood says this year’s fest, as in years past, will only feature retired MLB players, given the time constraints and restrictions current players face.

He hopes the who’s-who cast of retired players will motivate interested patrons, given the month-long ode to baseball that is the 15-team Cactus League.

Above all, the greatest highlight for Sweetwood is watching festivalgoers flock to the lakeside stages, savoring the work that his team has put forth.

Sweetwood is excited to see how the third installment of Innings Fest compares to previous iterations.

The reaction to previous years has been incredible, according to Sweetwood, giving him a sense of hope that this year’s event will live up to billing.

“You never know what the outcome’s going to be or if people will really like it, but this is one where people have taken to it and they’ve really liked it,” Sweetwood says. “And all of our offerings and different ticket types and

experiences have definitely helped.

“I think that’s been our nicest pleasure point and enjoyment, is that people are very receptive to the programming and to what we’re putting together.”

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entertainermag

Innings Festival Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, inningsfestival.com, all day Saturday, February 29, to Sunday, March 1, tickets start at $99.

Saturday, February 29 Dave Matthews Band, Portugal.

The Man, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Dr. Dog, Whiskey Myers, ZZ Ward, Strand of Oaks, Boy Named Banjo Sunday, March 1 Death Cab for Cutie, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, O.A.R., The Struts, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Nikki Lane, Pedro the Lion, Wilderado MLB players Ryan Dempster, Jake Peavy, Bret Saberhagen, Rick Sutcliffe, Luis Gonzalez, Trevor Hoffman, Jim Thome, Miguel Montero and Aaron Rowand.

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M3F gives back to local nonprofits while spotlighting bands from around the world Laura Latzko >> The Entertainer!

M

usic festivals have become more than just spaces to listen to music. They have turned into full-out events with different genres of music and immersive activities, as well as chances to give back.

Since 2004, Wespac Construction’s M3F music festival has given aficionados the chance to see some of their favorite bands and DJs and discover new groups, while supporting local charities.

The event continues to expand regularly with new entertainment offerings.

This year, M3F is from will take place from Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8, on the east side of Margaret T. Hance Park.

Festival manager Heather Rogers says the music festival has been made possible over the last 17 years because of the work of Wespac employees, who serve as volunteers and team leaders on top of their regular jobs.

Rogers says it’s gratifying to see how much they’re helping when the donation amount grows each year. The proceeds go to local charities. This year, funds raised will benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s music therapy program, Teach for America, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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Since it started, the event has raised more than $2 million, including over $500,000 last year, for local organizations.

In terms of music, Rogers says the festival has offerings for all tastes.

“We want to keep the variety there,” Rogers says. “We want to bring acts to Phoenix who normally don’t come through.”

Festivalgoers often discover new bands or become bigger fans of the M3F bands.

“Once they come and they listen to them, we get responses back of, ‘Oh, well I just picked up four new bands that I really like,’ or, ‘I didn’t know so-and-so played this song,’” Rogers says.

This year, the festival will have over 35 acts on three stages, including folk’s Bon Iver, Australian alternative dance group Rufus Du Sol, dub and reggae act Stick Figure, Dutch electronic artist and DJ San Holo, “beach goth” rock band The Growlers, jam rock’s moe., indie pop band Lany, Americana/bluegrass group Greensky Bluegrass, electronic duo Sofi Tukker, soul musician and DJ Mayer Hawthorne and indie rock group Local Natives.

Along with music, the festival will have a vendor marketplace, local food trucks, drum circles, yoga sessions, live art and a kids’ zone.

This year, the festival will offer an expanded Silent Disco area, a dance area with live DJs where listeners experience the music through headphones.

Tickets for the new VIP cabanas come

with added perks such as access to a private entrance, upgraded restrooms and a viewing deck near Stage 1, as well as complimentary beverages.

In the live art area, guests can add their own artistic touches to a community art project created by professional artists.

A kids’ zone from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday will offer games such as Giant Jenga and cornhole as well as arts and crafts activities. Food trucks will have choices for people with different palates, including vegan and vegetarian dishes, gluten-free food, noodle entrees, burgers, pizza and Mexican cuisine. Alcohol vendors will offer craft beer, wine and specialty and regular cocktails.

Inside the vendor marketplace, attendees can peruse items such as tiedye apparel, superhero capes, handmade clothing and accessories or jewelry.

HITTING THE STAGE Although the festival isn’t just about the music, it is the main draw.

This year’s event will spotlight mostly out-of-state bands, with six local groups in the mix.

Scattered Melodies, a local funk/soul group, hits the M3F stage for the second time at 1 p.m. Sunday on stage 2. The band first performed at the festival in 2018.

Scattered Melodies started as a rhythm section featuring drummer Josh Montag and bass player Jake Johnson and has expanded to include vocalists and multiinstrumentalists Killa Maus, Laura Hamlin and Haley Green; guitarist Kazton Boone and saxophone player Phelan Parker. Montag and Johnson started the group in 2012 after working together in a three-piece reggae rock band called Morning After.

Throughout the years, the two have performed with about 40 different singers from around the Valley.

Montag says having a more established lineup over the last two and a half years has helped to give the band a more cohesive sound.

“There’s just more consistency. We are all vibing together really well. We’ve got the chemistry going, and we’re all writing music together,” Montag says.

“We were having fun working with all of these different musicians. I’m definitely thankful for all of that, but I feel like we are heading in a better direction now with our set crew.”

In its music, the group blends different sounds, including funk, soul, reggae and rock.

Montag says the group tries to present high-energy music with positive vibes.

Music festivals such as M3F allow the band to perform for people with a deep appreciation for music.

“It does bring out true music fans, people who are there to have a good time and really enjoy the music,” Montag says. “What we are more interested in is a type of festival like (M3F), where people aren’t afraid to dance. They’re having a good time. The weather is super sunny, and they’re throwing beachballs around. Bubbles are flying through the air.”

M3F Margaret T. Hance Park, east side, 1200 N. First Street, Phoenix, main entrance at First and Portland streets, m3ffest.com, 1:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 6, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 1 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, tickets start at $80.

A NEW BAG OF ‘TRIX’

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Mark Gus Scott trades rock for power ballads Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

T

rixter’s drummer, Mark Gus Scott, hid behind his kit, pounding to songs like “One in a Million” and “Rockin’ Horse.”

Now, the North Phoenix resident has stepped to the forefront to explore adult contemporary music with the heartfelt ballad “With You.” “For the past few years, I have pursued music outside of rock ‘n’ roll in hopes of touching just one person. To be on the receiving end of so much love and

support from so many around the world is a gift I never expected,” Scott says.

“I wrote this song just to tell one person how deeply I feel. Now I want everyone to hear.”

“With You” combines an ’80s-style power ballad piano riff, symphonic orchestration and powerful melodic hooks—a big surprise for one of rock’s most well-known drummers.

“I’ve never sang before,” he says. “I’m not playing just drums. I play all the instruments on the cut, except guitar. I’m a horrible guitar player.

“I wanted it done right and I wanted what’s best

for the song. That’s more important than me playing all the instruments.

I’ve never felt so strongly about putting words down on paper. I was trying to be emotional. I always thought I sucked as a songwriter, but something clicked and I felt passionate about it. This one’s right on target.”

CDs and downloads will be available through iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music and CD Baby.

Autographed CDs can be purchased at MarkGusScott.com.

Throughout February and in honor of Valentine’s Day, Scott is offering downloads of his song for free on his site.

“There are too many people who have trouble expressing their feelings to the one they love,” Scott says.

“This Valentine’s Day, don’t waste 1 more minute and share this song with the one person you want to spend time with. If you feel that strong, then you have to let them know.”

He previously released “Christmas Miracle,” a holiday album that included his version of “Ave Maria.” The video features Scott performing among iconic Washington, D.C., landmarks like the World War II Memorial.

He frequently supports veterans by playing taps at cemeteries in New York City and the Valley to honor fallen heroes during Veterans Day and Memorial Day. “The Christmas album was a real-deal, adult contemporary Christmas record,” he says. “I thought I should be opening for Bing Crosby. The band was doing ancillary projects. Now I had a focus and I knocked it out of the park. I love the way it came out.”

THE PARADE DRUM Scott’s family knew he would be a musician when he was about 7, after his grandmother bought a “big parade drum.” At the same time, his mother gave him his first album, “Elvis’ Golden Hits.”

“I turned ‘Hound Dog’ on and I beat the living crap out of that parade drum,” he says with a laugh. “It made me feel wonderful. I broke the drumhead and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ So, I flipped it over and started pounding the other side.”

His first concert was “Foreigner 4” in 1981 at age 13. Immediately, he knew his calling.

“When that bass drum busted the waves of the room, I said, ‘OK. I know ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

exactly what I want to do in life.’”

As a sophomore in high school, Scott received the NAJE Special Citation for Musical Excellence and was granted admission to the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music. He attended three summers studying piano, drums, trumpet and a curriculum that included jazz, classical, chamber music, rock, music theory and composition.

He also put his knowledge to use as a musician/songwriter, and toured high schools and colleges throughout the country as a guest lecturer, teaching and promoting music, DARE and his drum instructional video/teaching method, “Rock Solid.”

With Trixter, Scott sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, had three No. 1 videos on MTV, four top 20 adultoriented rock hits and hit No. 26 on the Billboard album charts.

Trixter toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Japan in support of its five major-label releases.

They shared stages with Kiss, The Scorpions, Bret Michaels, Poison, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Cinderella, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Warrant, Great White and Firehouse.

Perhaps Trixter’s most well-known tour was 1991’s “Blood, Sweat and Beers” with Warrant and Firehouse.

“Together, we did something that only people dream about,” Scott says. “We didn’t realize the scope of what we were doing. We played (a venue) in Chicago, which was 33,000, and it was sold out.

Who the hell would have thought that?”

The tour included the pay-per-view special “Live from the Cajundome.”

Scott is hoping that the three bands may reunite for the tour’s 30-year anniversary in 2021.

“To put it back together would be something,” he says. “I’ve done a few shows in the last five years with those guys and they’ve killed. They’ve been fantastic. We’re all such close friends.

“We would welcome that sort of thing.

If someone says, ‘Gus, let’s do it,’ I’m the first one on the bus.”

Trixter is on hiatus, which is why this was the perfect time for Scott’s single.

“Some people don’t make the band a priority any longer,” he says. “In any business with four guys, if you all don’t agree on what you’re going to do with the business, the business suffers.”

MOVING TO ARIZONA Scott considers Arizona his home, after living throughout the United States in and out of suitcases on tour.

“I was going through a divorce and

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TOWN OF CAVE CREEK ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CAVE CREEK CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Feb. 29, 2020 Stagecoach Village 7100 East Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331

was very unhappy,” he says.

A friend asked him to consider moving to the Valley.

“My first day of exploration, I was sold before lunchtime,” Scott explains.

“I literally went to breakfast, saw mountains, went over there and knew I was sold. I’ve been here four years and I can’t tell you how much I truly embrace the area.

“I can get anywhere in 20 minutes. I’m outside the circle of the 101. It’s more rural. I’m not in the thick of the madness of Phoenix. I look outside every morning and I can breathe. Everything comes alive. It’s quiet—until I make some fricking noise (with music).”

Scott has friends in the area, including rock drummer Mick Brown, who played with Dokken. The two spend their weekends riding motorcycles around Cave Creek.

“There’s something very comfortable about doing that just about every weekend,” Scott says.

“We do it 52 weeks. It may sound repetitive, but there’s something

comfortable about it. We have a special gang of five members. We’re a tight-knit group. It’s a wonderful brotherhood and the motorcycle riding here is the best in the country—there are no potholes.”

Scott and Trixter singer Pete Loran spend time recording music for video games and movies.

“The whole thing started when we were doing sound effects for a video game and I started getting punchy,” Scott says with a laugh. “I pulled out the trumpet from the back of my car and it sounded really good.”

First and foremost, Scott is excited for the world to hear “With You.” “I’ve never felt so strongly about a song,” he says. “This one, I believe, is worthy of my time and attention. I hope fans find it enjoyable as well.

“I’ve put clips on social media and the response was extremely favorable. I wrote it for a young lady who I felt very strongly about.”

The couple has since broken up but, he quickly adds, “I got a good song out of it.

It was worth every moment.”

1-5 p.m.

Great craft breweries all in one location.

Pub Food (for purchase) Live Music by Lindsey Vogt

General admission $45.00

General entry gets you a cool sampling mug and 20 drink tickets so you can try your favorite beers as well as some new brews

VIP tickets are $60

Available online for pre-sale only. Early access at noon plus a cool mug to remember the event and sample your brews in. A $7.00 food voucher to purchase some pub grub and 5 extra drink tickets.

Tickets available online only at www.eventbrite.com, hurry and get your VIP ticket now before its too late.

For more information or to participate as a vendor or brewery visit: Cavecreekcraftbeerfestival.com, or Call Adam Stein at 480-488-6636.

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Renaissance Woman 28

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Renee Fleming showcases versatile musicality in Arizona Laura Latzko >> The Entertainer!

R

enee Fleming has made a name in opera, but she is an adaptable singer who has lent her voice to operatic, theater, film and classical

music.

The soprano recently sung “Danny Boy” during a memorial service for Sen. John McCain.

During an upcoming visit to Arizona, Fleming will perform at the Tucson Music Hall with the with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on Friday, February 6, and at the Mesa Arts Center on Friday, February 14.

The Tucson concert is part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival, which promotes collaboration between arts organizations and classical singers.

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This year, the festival is focusing on the American voice.

During her career, Fleming has played major operatic roles such as the Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” Violeta in Verdi’s “La Traviata,” Mimi in Puccini’s “La Boheme,” the title role in Dvorak’s “Rusalka,” the title roles in Massenet’s “Manon” and “Thais,” Desdemona in Verdi’s “Otello” and the Countess in Strauss’ “Capriccio.”

Fleming was recognized by President Barack Obama with the National Medal of Arts and was the first classical singer to perform the National Anthem during the Super Bowl.

A Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal winner, she has had music featured in the films “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri,” “The Shape of Water,” “Bel Canto,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Rise of the Guardians.”

She has also recorded music with singer Michael Bolton and released operatic, classical and jazz albums.

Fleming has also an extensive career in musical theater. Her portrayal of Nettie Fowler in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” earned her a Tony Award nomination.

Most recently, Fleming portrayed Margaret Johnson, a Southern woman visiting Italy with her developmentally disabled daughter, in Adam Guettel’s and Craig Lucas’ “The Light in the Piazza.”

She says with roles such as Johnson, she continues to be challenged as a performer.

“This role is really one of the most interesting roles for a mature woman, in either opera or music theater,” Fleming says. “She’s in a complicated situation. She grows tremendously throughout the piece. She’s a mother, and I can relate to her very well.”

In this role, she performs pop, musical theater and operatic pieces. She has always been interested in singing different types of music.

“For singers, the most versatile you are, the better, because the more likelihood that you’ll work.

But I’ve always tried to be versatile just because my taste in music is eclectic,”

Fleming says.

In her spare time, she often listens to jazz music and different vocalists.

“I’m very intrigued by what people can do with the human voice,” Fleming says.

Fleming, who sings in nine different languages, tries to bring programs that will appeal to audience members of different tastes.

“I really think about the audience. I want to make sure that there’s something for everyone,” Fleming says. “So, I give a great deal of thought and time to my programming. That’s one of the hardest things that I do. I have classical works that go through multiple centuries of music and multiple languages. I’ll typically put in some musical theater and film.”

While in Arizona, she will perform different programs in Tucson and Mesa.

The Tucson concert will feature music from Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “La Boheme,” “Carousel,” “The Shape of Water and Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi,” as well Richard Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” and Björk’s “All Is Full of Love.”

The Mesa program will include a mixture of classical and film music, including pieces from classical composers Handel, Liszt, Debussy, Hahn, Delibes and Anders Hillborg and selections from Bernard Herrmann from “Wuthering Heights,” Harry Warren from “The Shape of Water” and Ennio Morricone from “Once Upon a Time in the West.”

Music has been a part of Fleming’s life since she was a youngster in Pennsylvania with two music teachers as parents. She and her siblings were exposed to music early on in their lives.

“We all sang. We had no choice. I stuck with it, thank goodness,” Fleming says.

In college, Fleming performed jazz music, which she says helped her in her career.

“It was really terrific training for

me,” Fleming says. “You have to really develop your ear to sing jazz because of the freedom, the improvisation. I was performing for the same audience every weekend, which required another skill set. For me, it was a very important piece of my education.”

Fleming says finding success and carving her own path depended on different factors.

“Some of it is being in the right place in the right time, sorting out what kind of singer I would be and how to master that,” Fleming says. “I was very lucky with my first voice teacher, who was brilliant. There’re so many different elements. Talent is 10%.”

Fleming says female singers have added pressure to maintain a certain image.

“In my generation, it really became important. … People buy CDs with their eyes, especially before they really know you and become a fan,” Fleming says. “I think the expectation from the audience, because of film and television, became if you’re telling us a story about a young love or X, Y and Z, we want you to represent those characters.”

As a singer, she continues to evolve and constantly perform different music.

“The vocal repertoire is centuries old.

That’s completely endless. I could never make a dent in it, in terms of learning, and then I love doing new pieces,” Fleming says.

Renee Fleming Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 8 p.m.

Friday, February 14, $55 to $110.

Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson, 520.882.8585, tusconsymphony.org, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 6, $59-$179.

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TRAVEL

VACATION » SIGHTS » DAY TRIPS » ADVENTURE » EXPLORE » TRAVEL

l l i H e h t r Ove

Snowy escapes with ski, snowboard adventures for all Alison Bailin Batz >>The Entertainer!

N

ow through April marks ski season in the United States.

And while Arizona does boast some excellent mountains—especially Snowbowl in Flagstaff and Sunrise in Greer—just a short flight away are some of the world’s top ski mountains in Breckenridge, Park City and Vail.

BRECKENRIDGE Located about 90 minutes from Denver, Breckenridge is a small town with major bragging rights. It is known for promising over 100 winter activities for people of all ages. And, the tourism department is not just giving lip service.

These winter destinations prove the old adage that “a bad day on the slopes beats a good day at work” is very true. (Photo courtesy Park City Mountain)

Once a small mining town—one inadvertently left off the U.S. map until the mid-1950s—Breckenridge sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains and averages 300 days of sunshine and 300 inches of snow yearly. Beyond even skiing and snowboarding, visitors can snowmobile, dog sled, snowshoe, tour the world’s highest distillery in Breckenridge Distillery and ride horses in the snow.

The region made global headlines in recent months with the debut of Gravity Haus Breckenridge. Replacing the former Village Hotel at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak Nine, the renovated and tech-forward ski-in/ ski-out boutique property debuted in December with 60 distinctly curated rooms. Featuring a modern alpine design, accommodations include private

queen and king suites and combination suites featuring bunks and private sleeping areas for families and groups.

Designed to activate like-minded outdoor enthusiasts year-round, Gravity Haus offers ongoing insider experiences ranging from outdoor excursions to social programming. On-site amenities include the Dryland Fitness and Sports Recovery Center; Backcountry Discovery Center; StarterHaus, a new coworking space by Jim Deters; farm-tocup Unravel Coffee; nourishing dining at Cabin Juice; and a Japanese onsen, a bathhouse featuring four hot tubs, one cold tub and a dry sauna.

PARK CITY Park City, which is located about 30 miles from Salt Lake City in Utah, was also once a mining town and at one

time ran the risk of becoming a ghost town until savvy marketers realized the potential for tourism. Once it was marketed as “The Greatest Snow on Earth” (a play on the tagline of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), people from all over the world flocked to the winter paradise. With 330 trails, 43 lifts and eight terrain parks across its 7,300 skiable acres, Park City Mountain is the largest ski resort in the United States. It is among the best places in the country to take ski or snowboard school or to test out one’s skills. Beyond the slopes, Park City boasts a zipline adventure, a snow toboggan called the Alpine Coaster, snowmobile tours and sleigh rides. For history buffs, there is the Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Tour, a free, guided ski tour that takes guests of all ages on an exploration of the Whether with kids or not, romance is easy at these heavenly winter escapes. (Photo courtesy Vail Resort)

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

In Park City, resorts like the Waldorf Astoria sparkle as bright as the snow.

(Photo courtesy Waldorf Astoria Park City)

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The entire family is guaranteed snow much fun in Breckenridge, Vail and Park City. (Photo courtesy Park City Mountain)

region’s rich and colorful past. Park City also excels at all things après ski—the term for the entertainment following a day on the slopes—destinations in the world. There are 16 restaurants on the mountain. Of particular note: fine dining at the award-winning Farm Restaurant, which offers seasonal menus celebrating locally sourced, sustainable cuisine, and the newly opened Tombstone BBQ, which was formerly a food truck but was so lauded for its house-smoked meats and homemade sauces that it built a permanent home last year.

There is no shortage of “wow” resorts and hotels in the area, but of particular note is the Waldorf Astoria Park City and Montage Deer Valley. At the pet-friendly Waldorf, luxury is taken to new heights as it has its own ski valet and slope-side access to Park City Mountain. There are fire pits, a heated pool and hot tubs, including an adults-only hot tub. Beyond this, it boasts a spectacular 16,000-square-foot Waldorf Astoria Spa and signature restaurant, Powder, with to-die-for sustainable, local and seasonal dishes.

Montage Deer Valley is meant to evoke a great mountain lodge from days gone by, but with all the updates one wants and needs today. It’s located atop Empire Pass, so it has ski-in/ski-out access, and it features the largest spa in Utah.

VAIL Like Breckenridge, Vail is just a few hours outside of Denver in Colorado.

Yet, with its small villages and lovely resort and restaurant offerings—not to

mention the iconic Vail Mountain and its 5,300 acres of skiable terrain—it feels like you are in another world.

Those with kids can take advantage of Adventure Ridge, a playland with ski bikes, a kids’ snowmobile track, snow tubing lanes and more. It’s also heaven on earth for experienced skiers and snowboarders thanks to its back bowl (aka the ski roads less traveled) and private experiences. And for couples, after a day on the slopes, there are curated experiences, notably Game Creek, which is a private chalet restaurant only accessible via snowcat or gondola.

As for accommodations, less than a year ago Vail welcomed its first Grand Hyatt Vail—a ski-in/ski-out resort overlooking a creek—which features Native American art and offers multimillion-dollar rental residences on property. In addition, the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort recently unveiled a transformation with new guest rooms, suites and condos with new beds, artwork, lighting, flooring and amenities. The heated outdoor pool overlooks Vail Mountain, and bike rentals on property make quick jaunts to the nearby Lionshead Village, which is completely closed off to cars and buses, or Arrabelle Square and its outdoor ice rink, shops and restaurants even more convenient.

Other amazing options for winter escapes in the Western United States include Lake Tahoe in California, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, Telluride in Colorado and Sun Valley in Idaho.

Each snowy escape is suitable for all levels of skier or snowboarder, from novice to professional. (Photo courtesy Park City Mountain)

After a day on the slopes, there are dozens of spas in each snowy escape to ensure total relaxation. (Photo courtesy Waldorf Astoria Park City)

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ARTS

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

ARTS

CALENDAR Randy Montgomery >> The Entertainer!

“Meet Me in St. Louis”

TO FEBRUARY 8 Spend a year in the life of the Smith family as they eagerly await the opening of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Despite facing romantic trials, family upheavals and hilarious escapades, they emerge triumphant as they learn that what is most important is each other. Based on the MGM musical with Judy Garland.

Southwest Indian Ministries, 14202 N. 73rd Avenue, Peoria, moezartproductions. org, times vary, $15-$20.

nonprofit has presented thousands of true stories. The shows are renowned for their range of human experience, which start with a theme.

The storytellers, in unexpected ways, create a unique, intimate and enlightening experience.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7:30 p.m., $44-$48.

of platinum and gold records.

Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.495.1999, phoenixsymphony. org, times vary, $33-$177.

“The Wolves”

FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 22 Hailed as one of the most talked about and produced plays in recent years, the production is a fly-onthe-wall look at a girls’ high school soccer team as it goes through its warm-ups. From the safety of the suburbs, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A searing portrait of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls.

Presented by Stray Cat Theatre.

Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, straycattheatre. org, times vary, $30.

and laughter this Valentine’s Day. Shakespeare’s most hilarious tale comes to life with funloving characters, quarreling fairies and mistaken identities.

The performance includes stunning new sets and costumes.

Presented by Ballet Arizona with The Phoenix Symphony.

Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.381.1096, balletaz.org, tickets start at $34.

“Contra-Tiempo”

FEBRUARY 15 This urban Latin dance theater experience takes on joy as the ultimate expression of resistance.

Whenever humans have survived immense hardship and injustice, the presence of joy has always been at the root. The show takes the narrative of people of color in this country being underprivileged, voiceless, powerless and victimized and flips it on its head by embodying stories of joy. Accompanied by music group Las Cafeteras.

ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe, 480.965.3434, asugammage.com, 7 p.m., $20.

Ballet Etudes presents “Repertoire” “Design Transfigured/ Waste Reimagined”

FEBRUARY 1 TO MAY 17 This exhibition features international designers that position environmental concerns and sustainability at the center of their process. This is the first exhibition to recognize designers using extreme and inventive upcycling to address the state of our depleted and polluted environment, which is a shift from function of aesthetic considerations to socially responsible, environmental remediation.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.874.4666, smoca.org, times vary, free-$10.

“The Moth Mainstage”

FEBRUARY 5 Five storytellers take the stage and share a true, personal story from their life, all told live without notes.

Since Moth’s launch in 1997, the

“Battle of the Moustache: Neiman, Dali, Max”

FEBRUARY 6 TO FEBRUARY 28 Leroy Neiman, Salvador Dali and Peter Max are artists known for their mustaches. This exhibition will showcase more than 100 original paintings and limited-edition works from the three artists displaying how each became an artistic icon with his mustache becoming a part of his persona. During the run, visitors can vote for their favorite artist with the best mustache. The winner will be announced on February 29.

American Fine Art, 3908 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.990.1200, americanfineartgallery.com, times vary, free admission.

“Cirque Éloize – Hotel”

FEBRUARY 8 AND FEBRUARY 9 Enter a dynamic world, where theatre and circus collide, as Cirque Éloize brings its contemporary, family-friendly production to Scottsdale. This intimate refuge is styled with an avant-garde scenography inspired by the elegance of only the greatest hotels.

Cross the lobby doors and discover the grandiose and poetic universe in the troupe’s latest creation.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.8587, scottsdaleperformingarts. org, times vary, $28-$48.

Music of ABBA

FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 9 Experience an explosion of sound, light, dance and sheer grooviness as The Phoenix Symphony and Finnish pop sensation Rajaton perform the music of ABBA. Renowned for its genre-crossing repertoire of classical to Europop, Rajaton boasts a host

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” FEBRUARY 13 TO FEBRUARY 16 A hilarious masterpiece of dreams, illusion, love and fantasy. Be swept away with joy, romance

FEBRUARY 15 Ballet Etudes company members present classic and beloved works in the ballet world as well as new choreography in this evening of dance. Created by Sharon Seder Meko in 1986 to fulfill the artistic needs of serious young dancers, Ballet Etudes members strive to meet the same high artistic standards of a professional company in their dance training, rehearsals and performances.

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org, 7 p.m., $10.

“Beautiful”

FEBRUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 23 Long before she was Carole King, the chart-topping music legend Carol Klein was a Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah.

Relive the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

ASU Gammage, 1200 S.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Forest Avenue, Tempe, 480.965.3434, asugammage. com, times vary, $40-$125.

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unique personality combined to create an original American vision and voice. His legacy continues to flourish in the work of new artists today. This is an in-depth look at the life, poetry, artwork and personal struggles of the iconic artist by Dr. Mark Sublette, founder of Medicine Man Gallery and co-curator of the Maynard Dixon exhibition.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, 480.686.9539, scottsdalemuseumwest. org, 1 p.m., free-$20.

Travis Tritt: Solo Acoustic

FEBRUARY 23 Enjoy a special evening with awardwinning country artist Travis Tritt.

This rare opportunity features the multiplatinum artist in an intimate, solo, acoustic setting where his powerful voice and his guitar are the subject of the spotlight.

The up-close and personal event is punctuated by personal stories and anecdotes about his life and musical influences.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com 7 p.m., $36-$66.

“Riders of the Purple Sage”

FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 5 Arizona Opera’s first commission is making its hugely anticipated return. The adaptation of Zane Grey’s classic of the same name tells a powerful story of strength and redemption through love, loss, conflict and adventure across breathtaking Southwest vistas that are brought magnificently to life by renowned Arizona artist Ed Mell. Presented by Arizona Opera.

Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.266.7464, azopera. org, times vary, $70-$145.

Maynard Dixon’s “American West Along the Distant Mesa”

“Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa”

TO SEPTEMBER 13 Step inside one of Africa’s most powerful and enduring art forms and get a glimpse into the dramatic and lively masquerade traditions of Central Africa. See more than 150 stunning masks, instruments and costumes, displayed together in their authentic performance contexts. Explores the connections between masks and musical instruments while reflecting the diverse settings of masquerades.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.478.6000, themim.org, times vary, prices vary

FEBRUARY 28 Maynard Dixon’s creativity and

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TAKING UP THE MANTLE

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UPFRONT | TCITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Wright returns to Arizona Theatre Company as its managing director Bridgette M. Redman >> The Entertainer!

G

eri Wright has long loved the theater. Now, she’s taking on the mantle of managing director at the Arizona Theatre Company, replacing Billy Russo after his four-year stint. She arrived in early January and is ready to stabilize the organization.

“Theater is my favorite art form,” Wright says. “It always has been. I feel like my experience in the nonprofit and charitable world really can play a significant part of the managing director role at ATC.” ATC is often called the state’s theater company. In its 53rd season, it is a professional, resident theater that performs in Phoenix and Tucson in front of 130,000 guests each year. This past year, Sean Daniels took the helm of artistic director. The first season he has chosen for 2020-2021 will be announced soon.

Wright spent eight months at ATC as the senior director of development for the 2014-2015 season. She then went on to be the executive director, president and CEO of Act One Arizona, an organization that brings arts to children and schools in Arizona. She’s looking forward to bringing her talents to the ATC table.

“Act One really prepared me for this role,” Wright says. “It’s a young organization and I built it. It was 4 years old and is now 8. I more than doubled, almost tripled the budget, quadrupled staff, built the infrastructure and developed the board. Infrastructure really matters. You have to have a solid board and staff and a solid staff communication. If that is in place, everything else will grow.”

Act One arranges and pays for field trips for children from Title 1 schools to attend arts and cultural events. They also spearhead the Culture Pass that is available in Metro Phoenix and Tucson libraries. Arizona residents can check out the free Culture Passes that allows them to visit cultural organizations and more than 120 different performances.

Under Wright’s leadership, Act One more than doubled the number of field trip participants to 180,000 and the Culture Pass partnered with 60 arts organizations.

Upon announcing her departure on its website, the Act One board president cites Wright’s leadership as being the foundation to the growth they experienced.

“Geri’s leadership has been instrumental to the expansion Act One has experienced over the past several years,” says Mistie Hague Wishaar,

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the board president. “Her ability to build organizational capacity through board development, a focused mission and vision, sustainable fundraising and efficient program management has established Act One as a critical partner for arts organizations, schools and libraries to bring access to the arts throughout our communities.”

Wright feels strongly that a love for the arts begins in childhood, which is why it is important to expose young people to the arts. She remembers a field trip during her childhood in upstate New York when she was taken to see her first Radio City show—the Rockettes.

“I remember driving down to the city, the velvet curtains, the little seats, the legs flying and the costumes,” Wright says. “I was hooked. I thought this is amazing and people make a living doing this. I was only 10. That’s where it really started with me.”

Now back at ATC, she’s ready to apply all the skills she’s learned. She points out that nearly all performing arts organizations are right on the cusp of a deep crevice that threatens their sustainability. It’s the sort of position that she is well-equipped to work from and to help ATC back away from that danger spot.

She says many needed elements are already in place. She praises her predecessor, Billy Russo, for turning the organization to a positive future and cites the artistic brilliance and talent of Daniels.

“The biggest change that needs to happen is really mobilizing,” Wright says.

“That’s the secret to success—mobilizing people to a common goal, whether that is fund raisers or board members or staff or volunteers. That’s what I plan on doing.”

China Young, the former executive assistant to the managing director and board liaison who is now the artistic manager for ATC, has been working with Wright to help her sort through the company’s infrastructure.

She says Wright has been working at understanding what structures currently exist, what needs to change and what could just be supported.

“In another year, we’ll really be able to start flying as an organization,” Young says.

Young says throughout the changes, Daniels and Wright are the perfect team to bring stability to the organization.

“She is excellent at organization and communication and I think that is something that ATC is in desperate need of,” Young says. “We have been in a state of transition for so many years. With Sean coming on board, it is very clear that he is dedicated to ATC for all the right reasons. He won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a good opportunity for us to really look at our structure and

how that needs to be addressed.

(Wright) is an excellent person for that.”

Wright comes to ATC with a strong belief that the arts are critical to the health of a community and that the theater has a vital role to play in the cultural life of the state.

“Arts are really important to the community and to Arizona in general,” she says. “I passionately believe in it. I’m a motivator. I’m a realist. There are certain practical steps to get to an end goal. Once you break it down, it makes it more realistic and then people can buy into it easier.”

Her long career in the arts, including getting her start as an administrator at a museum, helped her develop the ability to identify and execute the necessary steps to lead ATC toward continued, sustained success. Positioning the theater to do that takes a combination of administrative, management and leadership skills to keep the theater vibrant and positioned to grow and thrive.

“As my career has progressed, I have gotten older, wiser and stronger,” Wright says. “Because of my basic knowledge and success as a fundraiser, moving that into the administrative end of it and the building governance and structure and financial, which I love as well, it makes me a unique combination to be at ATC. I enjoy the arts a great deal, but I’m a builder. I love building and making sure the teams are solid and the structure is in place and really looking for growth.”

Wright says one of her main strengths is building a team that has a mutual vision and shared goals. It is a team that stretches from the board to the staff to volunteers.

While some in the theater industry look upon their boards as being symbolic or necessary evils, Wright rejects that philosophy. She says a successful board rolls up its sleeves and gets involved.

“I can bring that cohesion to the board,” Wright says. “The board members are my thought partners. In an ideal world, they are my coaches, my trouble shooters. It’s a hand-in-hand relationship. That’s what I’m planning on moving the ATC board toward. It’s a good, solid board, definitely. We just have to start moving in the same direction. All it takes is a leader.”

ATC is organized so that all artistic production staff reports to Daniels and all development, marketing and fundraising staff reports to her. On day two at her new position, she says her first step was to really look into the areas that

she is responsible for to make sure they have the right people in the seats and that they’re all moving in the same direction.

She says she trusts Daniels that he has all of his house in order. Together, she feels they will be able to put their state theater on a national stage.

“We are moving in that direction,” Wright says. “I think Sean’s vision to produce more shows that travel from Arizona is going to happen. He’s very talented and I’m excited for the future of ATC. I believe in him. I think he’s got a great vision.”

They are a team that complements each other, she says, because they are both communicators who err on the side of over communicating rather than being reticent. They form a partnership where they are more alike than different, but their differences help bring new viewpoints to the table and widen both of their perspectives.

“I’m clearly not as creative as he is,” Wright says. “He’s got the creative side; I’m more of the logical and business side.

The two complement each other and we look at things differently.”

With everyone she works with as she undertakes this new mission and role, Wright is eager to build on her success at energizing and inspiring all who work at the theater.

“I love building teams,” Wright says.

“Because this is the truth. No one does this alone. No one leads an organization by themselves. No one does all the fundraising or governance. If they say they do it alone, they’re not being truthful.”

Arizona Theatre Company arizonatheatre.org

SHEDDING A LIGHT ON POSITIVITY

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UPFRONT | TCITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

The Simmons brothers work to raise kids’ self-esteem Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

J

K Simmons has won Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe and Academy awards, but his fondest memories are those spent with his brother, David.

“The things that stand out are things I did 40 years ago with my brother and other theater jobs I did in the meantime,” JK says.

“We did a wonderful production of ‘The Fantasticks,’ which is a great little musical.

We toured Montana in an 11-passenger van. I played El Gallo and he played the boy’s father. That was one of the many times we got to be on stage together.”

The two will hit the stage again—the Third Street Theatre at the Phoenix Center for the Arts—on Monday, March 2, as part of UBU Project’s benefit concert “Light Your Corner of the World.” Proceeds benefit the project, which seeks to end youth suicide and prevent bullying and substance abuse through arts integration.

“It’s going to be a great event with an eclectic lineup of entertainment featuring David Simmons and the UBU

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band, and me and a bunch of David Simmons kids who have been a part of the UBU Project,” JK says.

David, a Peoria resident, and JK will perform a Broadway duet, and then JK will perform alone.

“Getting up on stage for a benefit like this is pretty much the only live performing and singing I get to do these days,” JK says.

“My wife and I have been living in LA for almost 20 years, after meeting in New York doing Broadway. We’re bicoastal now. I’m hoping I might end up on Broadway the next few years, maybe in a play or a musical.”

The UBU Project utilizes the arts to teach other subjects, says David, who teaches songwriting at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center in empathy. We don’t talk about suicide, Phoenix. Young performers—from fifth addiction or bullying, except for the first grade to high school—will perform their day. material during the rest of the show.

“We go through a variety of styles.

Student performers include Cheyenne They always want to hear me rap, play Newberry of Peoria; Danica Rollier of jazz, country or rock. I’m a trained opera Paradise Valley; singer. They want to hear me sing that.”

JK Simmons Isaiah Tilson of “Light Your Corner of the World” is Phoenix and Phoebe one of David’s songs, one that will end Marlowe of Paradise the show.

Valley, singing “My late wife (Marilyn Rice) taught to tracks and live me our job on the planet is to light our drummer Colin corner of the world,” David says. “If we McDonald. all do that slowly, we’ll slowly get rid of “The three young the darkness. That’s how we can help one ladies are all in my another have a fun, positive evening.”

Alice Cooper Teen He called Rice an amazing musician Center songwriting and a “force of nature of a woman.” class,” David says.

Rice, who died of breast cancer in 2014, “Isaiah and Colin, I inspired David’s music and his project. met through Solid So did his own attempts at suicide and Rock. The others then sobriety. took part in a UBU As he drove across the Valley to an suicide prevention AA meeting, David heard harrowing residency with Solid statistics about teen suicide. He was Rock. They have “galvanized into action.” He teamed hearts as big as all up with his friend Walt Versen and JK, outdoors. along with seed money from the likes of “These kids have Hugh Jackman. come up with the “Walt and I went to visit my brother most amazing in Los Angeles on the set of one of his lyrics,” David says.

TV shows and we were talking about the “The kids work project,” he says. collaboratively.

“We finally came up with how the The kids talk about organization would be structured. We’re hope, resilience, a 501(c)(3). It was born in JK’s trailer self-compassion and while we were sitting around eating

protein bars and drinking water. We were just all on fire for the idea. We’ve had some lovely donations from some people in the entertainment industry; friends of my brothers.”

The first residency was in 2018, and in 16 months they have had direct impact of 3,500 kids and a 33.2% increase in student comprehension. He has worked with Pendergast Elementary School District in Phoenix and Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek.

“Every day I wake up and I know I’m part of that solution and teaching kids so they can be part of that solution within their own classroom culture,” David says.

David is looking forward to the show.

“I just can’t wait to hear the kids perform and be on stage with my brother again,” David says. “We haven’t done a show together for 11 years.

“At the last gig, we did a duet, a father-son duet. We started singing and, in a minute, we both started sobbing.

We couldn’t get the notes out. It’s a testament to our parents. My brother and sister are two of my closest friends and colleagues.”

The UBU Project Presents: Light Your Corner of the World Phoenix Center for the Arts, Third Street Theater, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, ubuproject.org, 7 p.m. Monday, March 2, $35-$500.

Global Masters Series Concert

LILA DOWNS: AL CHILE

Thu. & Fri., February 27 & 28 | 7:30 p.m. $69.50–$85.50 An iconic singer bridges traditions from the folk and ranchera music of Mexico and South America to North American folk, jazz, blues, and hip-hop.

“The Mexican American singer has a stunning voice, a confident multicultural vision grounded in her Mixtec Indian roots.”

—Los Angeles Times Upcoming Concerts Ladysmith Black Mambazo February 7 & 8 Leo Kottke February 9 & 10 An Evening with Katia and Nina Cardenal February 11 Terry Riley and Gyan Riley: Live at 85!

February 12 Lloyd Cole: From Rattlesnakes to Guesswork 2020 Tour February 13 Dee Dee Bridgewater: “Dear Ella” A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald February 22 Jack Broadbent February 24 Omar Sosa and Yilian Cañizares: AGUAS Trio with Gustavo Ovalles February 26 And many more!

2020 Concert Series sponsored by

MIM.org | 480.478.6000 | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ

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DINING

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH 602.875.8080, matchphx. com, 5 p.m. to midnight, $45.

DINING

CALENDAR Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer!

Brunch Café Nurses Discount

Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, dinewithyourdog.org, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $150-$2,000.

DAILY Brunch Café in Scottsdale is offering a delicious “thank you” for all the nurses in the Valley. From 6:30 to 10 a.m., nurses can receive 50% off all drinks plus a complimentary chocolate-covered strawberry.

Drinks include coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos, fruit smoothies, cold press juices, flavored lemonades, iced teas, coffee and hot tea. Nurses must show their nursing ID to receive the special offer.

Brunch Café, 15507 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, 480.398.7174, brunchcafe.com, 6:30 to 10 a.m., various prices.

Street Eats Food Truck Festival

Greekfest

Vegan Valentine’s Day

FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 9 Peoria’s Greekfest features authentic food and pastries like saganaki, gyros, dolmathes and baklava, live Greek music, live folk dancing, a marketplace and children’s activities Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 7950 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Peoria, peoriagreekfest. com, 4 to 10 p.m. February 7, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. February 8, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

February 9, $3, children and active military are free.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital Dine with Your Dog

FEBRUARY 8 This annual event combines a tasty brunch spread for people and artisan canine cuisine with fun and inspiration for a great cause. All proceeds benefit PetSmart Charities’ Paws Can Heal Animal-Assisted Therapy program. These certified animals deliver therapeutic visits that motivate movement, build muscle and lift spirits for patients at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

(Speaking of spirits, brunch includes a Tito’s Handmade Vodka bloody mary bar and soothing mimosas.)

Monterra at WestWorld of

FEBRUARY 8 Become a food truck connoisseur and travel the world at the Valley’s favorite food truck festival. For one weekend every year, it’s easy to find your favorite restaurants on wheels—because they’re at Salt River Fields’ Street Eats Food Truck Festival. The food trucks will offer $2 samples of their homemade treats.

Plus, between bites, guests can enjoy eating contests and a free kids’ zone.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480.270.5000, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $12-$15.

FEBRUARY 9 Discover Casa Terra, Arizona’s only vegan fine-dining restaurant, this February as it hosts an exquisite culinary occasion featuring a specially designed five-course menu, exclusively for vegan Valentine guests.

Casa Terra, 6835 N. 58th Drive, Glendale, 623.230.2289, eventbrite. com, 6 to 7:30 p.m., $70.

Match Restaurant and Lounge Valentine’s Day

FEBRUARY 14 Valentine’s Day is the loveliest day of the year and Match Restaurant and Lounge created a three-course menu to match. The first course is roasted oysters, goat cheesestuffed figs, and spinach- and mushroom-stuffed ravioli. That is followed by thick-cut baconwrapped filet mignon and seared Chilean sea bass and coconut curry.

The third course—and seemingly the best—is red velvet chocolate lava cake, pink rose champagne truffles with sparkling chocolate-covered strawberries, and raspberry sorbet.

Match Restaurant and Lounge, 1100 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix,

FEBRUARY 14 On Valentine’s Day, The Screamery ice cream parlors in Chandler and Phoenix will offer a six-flavor flight of ice cream plus two, oldfashioned sodas—cream soda, root beer, cane cola or wild cherry—for $7 (regular price $12.50). The Screamery is known for having “clean” natural ice cream.

The Screamery, 10625 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 136, Phoenix; The Screamery, 140 N. Arizona Avenue, Suite 106, Chandler, thescreamery.com.

CraySEA in Love is OdySea Aquarium’s Valentine’s evening event featuring a five-course strolling dinner, a bevy of craft cocktail options, and live music from violinist Jonathan Levingston.

Throughout the evening, guests will be treated to interesting talks from OdySea Aquarium experts as well.

“The Baiting Game” is a hilarious adaptation of the vintage TV show “The Dating Game,” with a new twist from animal ambassadors.

OdySea Aquarium, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.291.8000, odyseainthedesert.com, 6 to 10 p.m., $40 per person, $70 per couple when purchased online at OdySea’s website in advance.

Southern Rail

Ocean Prime Celebrates Love

The Screamery Sweetheart Special

FEBRUARY 14 Southern Rail is offering a pre-fixe menu for Valentine’s Day. Appetizer choices are arugula and berry salad; Southern Rail’s signature andouille sausage gumbo; vegetable noble toast and “loaded” cauliflower soup.

Jumbo shrimp cocktail is $10 more.

Guests can choose from entrees such as tender duck confit and dirty rice risotto; wood-oven roasted chicken; shrimp and grits; fresh fish and a local organic vegetable plate.

A steak special is an additional $10.

Dessert is triple chocolate cake.

Southern Rail, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.200.0085, southernrailaz. com, 5 to 10 p.m., $55.

Beckett’s Table

FEBRUARY 14 Beckett’s Table has a host of choices for its Valentine’s Day pre-fixe menu. Kick off the meal with Beckett’s Table’s signature chop salad; wood-oven roasted Brussels sprouts; shrimp noble toast or seasonal soup. Steak tartar is an additional $10. Entrée choices include fork tender short rib; woodoven roasted chicken; scallops; fresh fish and local organic vegetable plate. Steak is $10 additional, while lobster ravioli if $15 extra. Dessert is Amarena chocolate cake duet.

Beckett’s Table, 3717 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.954.1700, beckettstable. com, 5 to 10 p.m., $55.

CraySEA in Love FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 14 Love is in the air at Ocean Prime.

For couples who love to dine, this restaurant will offer a special menu item designed to ignite the flame of passion. The menu items include sea bass over Alaskan king crab gnocchi with champagne cream topped with baby carrot salad in a preserved lemon pepper vinaigrette.

Ocean Prime, 5455 E. High Street, Phoenix, 480.347.1313, oceanprime.com, reservations required.

Phoenix City Grille Lovely Valentine’s Day

FEBRUARY 14 Phoenix City Grille is giving diners another reason to fall in love with this local favorite with a selection of specialties. This three-course meal will include options of New England clam chowder, filet and lobster, scallops and two choices of cheesecake. Plus, every couple will receive a complimentary chocolate-covered strawberry.

Phoenix City Grille, 5816 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, 602.266.3001, phoenixcitygrille. com, 3 to 10 p.m., reservations required, various pricing.

Devour the World

FEBRUARY 15 East meets west, north and south with this event that celebrates the Valley’s international flavors.

This is the first event in Devour Week. Cultural music and dance performances will accompany food and libation sampling from regional restaurants, food trucks,

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Scottsdale entrepreneur brings her heritage to the Valley Octavio Serrano >>The Entertainer!

L

awdan Shojaee grew up in Los Angeles, where her Persian culture is vibrant and present.

She misses it, so she’s bringing it to the Valley, where she lives now, with the second annual Persian New Year Festival.

“Growing up, I was very close to it and I could have access to it,” says Shojaee, the founder of the Scottsdale software company Axosoft. “When I moved to Arizona 20 years ago, I started missing having that proximity.”

The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, March 7, at the Scottsdale Waterfront. The event is free, but RSVPs are encouraged. Last year, 6,000 people attended.

“I started noticing that we don’t have enough Persian culture here in the Valley, so I thought why not take a stab at putting together a festival,” Shojaee says. “I really enjoy going to other festivals in town and I thought, ‘What if we had the opportunity to introduce my culture?’”

It started as a simple event with cultural food, but now she’s showcasing her favorite thing about the Persian

culture—hospitality.

“The entertainment we bring on stage is absolutely top notch,” Shojaee says. “We have a dance studio who brings their top dancer to dance on our stage with some of the most amazing costumes.”

Fashion designer Masha Page is organizing a show set to music that will display the clothing of Iran.

“What will surprise people is that Iran is very different than the rest of the Middle Eastern countries in that fashion is very important to them,” Shojaee says.

She is increasing the festival’s size to accommodate more than 40 vendors, who will display items like sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery and calligraphy.

The tea house is the largest attraction, says Shojaee, whose volunteers will hand out free tea with a ticket obtained from the festival’s website. Tea is vital to her culture, Shojaee says, and one that is at the center of many social gatherings.

“You walk into any (Persian) family, they will offer you the tea in the exact way that these ladies offer the tea at the tea house,” Shojaee says.

The festival is also an opportunity for Shojaee and her team to give back to the community, specifically the Ivy

wineries and breweries.

Centennial Plaza-Peoria City Hall Complex, 9874 N. 58th Avenue, Peoria, devourphoenix. com, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $55.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, southwestcajunfest. com, noon to 9 p.m., $8-$45.

Angry Crab Shack Southwest Cajun Fest

FEBRUARY 16 Join the James Beard-hosted “Arizona Seven” for a one-nightonly dining event at awardwinning restaurant The Gladly as the second event for Devour Week. Enjoy a farm-fresh feast paired with fine Arizona wines, served by Arizona’s top chefs.

The Gladly, 2201 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.759.8132, devourphx.com, 4 to 7 p.m., $175.

FEBRUARY 15 Grab your bibs! Southwest Cajun Fest celebrates Cajun culture, cuisine and handcrafted beer with jazz, blues and contemporary swing revival bands.

Festival patrons will feel transported to southeastern Louisiana, with a variety of food vendors serving up regional dishes. Other highlights include themed zones, eating competitions, a kids’ zone and more interactive experiences.

An authentic New Orleans party needs plenty of libations. This boil will showcase handcrafted Abita beers on draft and in cans including Abita Amber, Purple Haze, Hop On, Purple Haze and Hurricanes.

Seven Chefs Dinner

Mardi Gras at Voodoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen FEBRUARY 21 Mardi Gras is a joyful tradition celebrated throughout the world, with vibrant parades in New Orleans every year. Voodoo Daddy’s Steam

Brain Tumor Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute. The center offers a bold approach to identify effective new experimental therapies for malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma.

Patients receive individualized care in a fraction of the time and cost associated with traditional research and development.

“We’ve partnered with them to make sure that we donate to their cause,” she says. “We wanted to show our philanthropic arm as a culture and every year we choose a different local nonprofit to donate to.”

Shojaee says she feels the festival has

developed into an authentic experience.

“The joy that we have in putting this together really resonates in the festival,” Shojaee says. “It’s absolutely beautiful.

The colors, the sounds, the smells, it just adds to the beauty of the day.”

Kitchen is bringing the party to the Valley the weekend before Mardi Gras and on Fat Tuesday.

Guests will enjoy Cajun and creole favorites like gumbo, jambalaya and shrimp creole. Hurricanes, craft beer and wine will also be sold to keep the party going.

Voodoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen, 1325 W. Elliot Road, Suite 106, Tempe, 480.659.6145, voodoodaddy.com, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission.

access to the beverage garden, discounted wine sales, chef demos and a reusable commemorative wine glass and yoke.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., $105-$205.

Devour Culinary Classic

FEBRUARY 23 In celebration of Arizona’s robust independent dining scene, unique food culture and culinary personalities, Devour Week is proud to bring Arizona’s best chefs, bartenders and local food and drink exhibitors. Sample and enjoy the best local restaurants and food while strolling Desert Botanical Garden. Guests will have

Persian New Year Festival Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Suite 155, Scottsdale, persiannewyearfestival.com, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 7, free.

James Beard Foundation’s Taste America

FEBRUARY 26 This pop-up dinner, which is part of a national tour, brings together food and thought-provoking conversation surrounding the nonprofit’s mission of cultivating a better food world.

Issues to be discussed are food waste reduction, sustainability, inclusivity and chef advocacy.

The intimate dinner will feature a menu created by Kristen Kish and host chef Christopher Gross.

Wrigley Mansion, 2501 E. Telawa Trail, Phoenix, jamesbeard.org, 6 p.m., tickets start at $225.

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DEVOURING THE VALLEY

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

This weeklong food event celebrates all-things Arizona Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer!

K

imber Lanning of Local First Arizona was upset that the press didn’t rate Phoenix as a desirable culinary

destination.

So, she took matters into her own hands and created Devour Week, a weeklong culinary celebration that showcases Arizona’s food and drink purveyors. The week’s signature events are the Culinary Classic, Seven Chefs Dinner and Devour the World. This year it’s Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23.

During the main event, the Culinary Classic, guests will meet chefs and restaurateurs, partake in innovative culinary demonstrations, and taste goods from the region’s best chefs, restaurants, local food artisans, brewers and vintners.

It is Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, at the Desert Botanical Garden. Only VIP tickets remain.

The Seven Chefs Dinner brings together seven local chefs who will create a farm-fresh meal paired with Arizona wines at Phoenix’s The Gladly from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, February 16.

Devour the World celebrates the

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international flavors of the Valley from the likes of The Breadfruit Rum & Bar; Colados Coffee & Crepes; Kood Tea Bar & Café; The Rez: An Urban Eatery and Republica Empanada to Centennial

talent,” Lanning says. “We brought together all of the chefs from Arizona.

Our goal is to showcase all that Arizona has to offer.”

This is the first year it’s in the

Plaza in Peoria from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, February 15.

“We decided to open an Arizona culinary event that focuses on Arizona

Northwest Valley.

“I think Devour the World has always been a trailblazing event, and we’re excited to expose the West Valley, which has long been a fast-growing region here in the Valley, to the greater chef scene,” Lanning says.

One of those chefs is Danielle Leoni, the executive chef and co-owner of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Downtown Phoenix. Leoni has attended Devour the World previously to show off the restaurant’s Jamaican and Caribbeanbased cuisine.

She initially attended the event to gain exposure for her then-new restaurant.

Now she gives back to the community.

“Every year we’ve gone we’ve taken home at least one gold medal, sometimes two, and we just kept going back,” Leoni says.

Last year was the first year that The Breadfruit wasn’t part of Devour Week.

“I felt like I did my work. I felt like I shouldn’t take home another gold medal,” Leoni says. “Somebody else needs to win. I was just standing in the way instead of helping.”

This year, she’s bringing sustainable seafood to the Northwest Valley.

“If you’re worth your weight in salt, as a chef, you have to do things that are good for the people around you and then in turn you’re supported,” Leoni says.

“There are people everywhere and everyone deserves good food.”

Colados Coffee and Crepes of Goodyear and Avondale are participating in this year’s Devour the World as well.

The Reina family will bring their top-selling entrees to Devour the World like the chipotle crepe (cheese, spinach and ham) and the Nutella (Nutella, strawberries and banana).

The family never had a crepe until a 2013 trip to Paris.

“A friend of ours told us we had to try crepes and we had never heard of crepes in our life,” says Aaron Reina, son of owners Yesica and Berni Reina.

The couple considered opening a shop to bring the flavors of Paris to the West Valley. The plans were accelerated after they were laid off. The shop—named after a coffee-making process that involves cloth filters—is a family affair, with the couple and their three children running the restaurants.

The Reina family was introduced to Local First Arizona through their community and became a part of Devour Phoenix shortly thereafter. They hope to show off their culture at Devour the World.

“My mom goes from table to table,” Aaron says. “She says hi to every customer. That’s the kind of the culture of who we are.”

Devour Week devourphoenix.com

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BEER AND WINE

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

BEER AND WINE

CALENDAR Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer!

AZ Strong Beer Festival

FEBRUARY 8 Arizona Strong Beer Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary and it’s pulling out all the stops.

Festivalgoers will have a chance to sample from more than 30 breweries from around the world.

The available beer will be strong in flavor, character and tradition—as well as specialty styles and unique.

Each ticketholder will receive a commemorative tasting cup and drink tickets. Brewers will get together for 20 collaborations.

Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, arizonabeerweek. com, 1 to 5 p.m., $60-$100.

Corks & Cactus

FEBRUARY 8 Sample, sip and savor your way through the splendor of the Desert Botanical Garden at Corks & Cactus, where boutique wines and desert beauty blend into a delightful event. Sample from 40 wines, enjoy music and purchase delicious fare. After visiting with representatives from a variety of wineries, guests can purchase their favorite wines by the bottle or case at the Garden’s Wine Retail Store.

Guests can mix and match 12 or more bottles and receive 10% off the total purchase price. All wine purchased benefits the garden’s education, research, exhibition and conservation programs.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, $45.

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Mesa Margarita Festival

FEBRUARY 9 Come enjoy margaritas galore.

While there, get ready to watch a live pro wrestling from Arizonabased Cactus League Wrestling and performances by area bands. Don’t forget all of the different tacos to go along with your margaritas.

Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa, eventbrite. com, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $12-$50.

Off the Vine Festival

FEBRUARY 15 The Arizona Wine Growers Association has gathered together some of Arizona’s best wines just a hop, skip and a jump away from each other, giving you an opportunity to interact with the participating winemakers.

Twenty-five of Arizona’s finest vineyards and wineries, live music, food trucks and artists will share their wares. Everybody will set up on the historic property that features an 1800s ranch house.

Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 520.797.3959, azwinefestivals. com, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., $25-$30.

Sippin’ the Spirit of the Southwest

FEBRUARY 15 Local spirit creators throughout the Valley will come together to share their creations at Sippin’ the Spirit of the Southwest, which benefits Liberty Wildlife.

The event also features a beer garden, games, raffles, animal ambassadors and tours.

Liberty Wildlife, 2600 E. Elwood, Phoenix, libertywildife. org, noon to 5 p.m., $27.50 online, $32 day of event.

Cocktail Weekend

FEBRUARY 15 TO FEBRUARY 17 Arizona Cocktail Weekend will host three signature evening events this year, while the best brands in the industry showcase their top spirits. Guests can participate in brand-driven happy hours and parties and educational seminars filled with craft cocktails. Join in the fun with three events including The Cocktail Carnival, Top Bars and The Last Standing.

Various locations and times, arizonacocktailweekend.com.

Mardi Gras Bar Crawl

FEBRUARY 22 Old Town Scottsdale will turn into Bourbon Street for the biggest Mardi Gras celebration and party.

Collect thousands of beads and drink SoCo Hurricanes. It’s an incredible day of green, purple and gold New Orleans-style fun.

The participating bars include Bevvy, Blue Clover, Boondocks, El Hefe, Giligin’s, Goodwood Tavern, Riot House and Whiskey Row. Each participating bar will offer discounted food and drink specials.

Old Town Scottsdale, 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale, eventbrite.com, 3 to 10 p.m., $16-$20.

The Perch Brewery Mardi Gras FEBRUARY 22 This is the biggest Mari Gras Festival in the Southeast Valley. Music by The Irie, Southbound, Blackbeards Delights and a variety of DJs will dazzle the crowd, along with fire dancers and LED hula hoopers.

Don’t forget the Cajun delicacies, hurricanes, cocktails and plenty of fine locally brewed craft beer.

The Perch Brewery, 232 S. Wall Street, Chandler, 480.773.7688, perchpubbrewery. com, 4 to midnight, $10.

Tequila Fest Phoenix

FEBRUARY 22 This year marks the second Tequila Fest Phoenix, which will showcase more than 50 tequilas,

a 50/50 raffle, beer specials, taco specials, a margarita bar and, of course, live entertainment. The best part about this event is that it falls on National Margarita Day. Monastery Mesa, Mesa 4810 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, tequilafestphoenix.com, 480.474.4477, $45-$100.

Wine, Women, and Horses

FEBRUARY 29 This year’s Wine, Women and horses includes Emmy Awardwinning Fox 10 anchor Syleste Rodriguez as emcee, live horse racing with instructions on how to bet on the horses, a hat contest, luncheon, drawing prizes, raffle prizes and silent auction items.

Turf Paradise Ranch Track, 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, turfparadise. com, 602.942.1101, $80.

Scottsdale Whiskey Festival

FEBRUARY 29 Grab your friends and come on down to try out some great whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. There will be more than 20 varieties from which to choose. Let your taste buds take a trip around the world while you devour these samples.

Wasted Grain, 7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, oldtownfests. com, 480.970.0500, $20-$30.

Cave Creek Craft Beer Festival FEBRUARY 29 Stagecoach Village is hosting the first Cave Creek Craft Beer Festival with the top breweries from around the country, mixed in with cider, kombucha and meads. General admission yields a sampling mug and 20 drink tickets. Pub food will be offered for sale throughout the event and Lindsey Vogt will perform. VIP ticket holders get early access, a mug, $7 food voucher and five extra sampling tickets.

Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, cavecreekbeerfestival.com, eventbrite.com, 1 to 5 p.m., $45 general admission, $60 VIP.

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Off the Vine

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | C ASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Arizona wine growers show off their stuff in Oro Valley Annika Tomlin >>The Entiertainer!

B

efore 2006, there were only 12 wineries in Arizona.

This year, there are more than 125, and a portion of them will showcase their goods at the seventh annual Off the Vine Festival at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley on Saturday, February 15.

“We were looking for wineries to showcase in different parts of the state,” says Paula Woolsey, event organizer for the 85085-based Arizona Wine Growers Association. “Off the Vine was an attempt to share the wealth and bring in people from all around the state.”

This one-day event offers 27 of Arizona’s best wines, giving attendees an opportunity

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to interact with the participating winemakers. Tickets start at $25; nondrinkers and kids are invited at no cost. Off the Vine also offers live music by the Pete Swan Trio, food trucks and artists.

“Off the Vine has quickly become one of our biggest events of the year, and after seeing record-breaking attendance in 2019 we’re expecting an even bigger crowd for 2020,” says Kris Pothier, president of the AWGA and owner of Chateau Tumbleweed. “Steam Pump Ranch and the surrounding mountains provide such a beautiful setting for wine lovers to experience wines from across the state and even meet the winemakers themselves, who are often in attendance.”

Among the wineries will be Carlson Creek Vineyard, Burning Tree Cellars, Golden Rule Vineyards and Laramita Cellars.

“We encourage people to buy wine and take it home with you to support the local wine industry and use the wine throughout the year,” Woolsey says.

The 1800s historic ranch provides a rural setting in Oro Valley and showcases a Southern farmers market selling goods during the event. The well-staffed ranch allows participants to not be

stuck in long lines as they go through the festival.

Robert Carlson III, owner of Carlson Creek Vineyard, has been a part of the wine-growers association since its founding. Eleven years ago, Carlson and his brother, John, cleared out and planted the fi rst vines in the initial 6 acres of land they bought in Willcox.

Now with 280 acres, the Carlson family offers a wide array of grapes made into wines, from chardonnay and sauvignon blanc to malbec and grenache.

“When we came to Willcox we noticed it was smack dab in the middle of agriculture,” Carlson says. “We’re surrounded by pistachios, pecans, corn and cattle. There’s so much agriculture out here.”

The Carlson family chose Willcox because of its weather and the elevation, as it sits on Willcox Bench.

“We’re at 4,200-feet elevation,” Carlson says. “Weather conditions are warm days and cool nights, similar to what you would find in Argentina, Chile and the south of France, which produce thicker skins, deeper colors and more flavor on the grapes.”

Some of their best-selling wines include Sweet Adeline, a moscato named after their grandmother, and Rule of 3, a blend of three wines named after the three Carlson siblings.

“I think the major thing setting us apart is we focus on the vineyard first and foremost,” Carlson says.

Burning Tree Cellars in Cottonwood is participating in Off the Vine Festival as well. Mitch Levy, its co-owner, wanted to start in the wine industry in the ’70s, but his career took him down a different path.

After retiring from a career in finance, Levy met his business partner, Corey Turnbull, and they started the company in 2007. They became AWGA members in 2009, when they opened

their tasting room. Levy graduated from the Yavapai College Southwest Wine Center.

“I never wanted to be in the vineyard.

It was never my bag,” Levy says. “I never wanted to be a farmer, but I have actually fallen in love with it. It’s a great program.”

“Burning Tree” was named as such because as vines burn they become dormant and through the circle of life they are reborn and provide grapes once more. Burning Tree Cellars makes reds, whites and a few rosés, each of which has a unique label.

“We are known for our labels,” Levy says. “I believe we are the first winery or one of the first (in Arizona) to use nontraditional labels. All of the labels have a story of why we called them what we did.”

For example, “Trademarked” was originally called “Matriarch,” but a cease-and-desist order forced the name change. A California winery was using the same name.

“It’s a picture of an elephant and it’s our homage to women because more women drink chard than guys,” Levy says.

Levy is the activities director for the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, which has allowed him to help fellow winegrowers for the past eight years.

“In the wine business, I could pick up the phone and ask for help and I know people would help us,” Levy says. “It’s a big family. It’s a wine family.”

Off the Vine 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 15 Historic Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley $25 in advance, $30 at the door eventbrite.com, azwinegrowersassociation.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | C ASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Arizona Strong Beer Festival pours at Steele Indian School Park Christopher Boan >> The Entertainer!

A

stacked lineup of craft brewers and beer aficionados will flock to Steele Indian School Park in early February for a

special event.

The 20th annual Strong Beer Festival, hosted by the Arizona Craft Brewer’s Guild from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 8, will bring more than 130 breweries and over 500 craft beers to the Valley.

The event has become the centerpiece of the guild’s annual events calendar, according to ACBG Executive Director Rob Fullmer.

Fullmer, who has served in his role since 2013, says the annual festival is crucial to the guild’s existence, serving as its main fundraiser and outreach opportunity.

“The festival has a 20-year legacy. And there are older festivals, but this was sort of the fundraiser, the coming together of the handful of breweries,” Fullmer says. “It was a fundraiser and sort of a spotlight on what the beer culture was at that time.”

Fullmer remembers when the Strong Beer Festival had to bring in out-of-state breweries decades ago because of the lack of local outposts from which to choose.

Now, his main task is to whittle down the list of potential entrants, to maintain order on the park’s 9-acre plot.

Fullmer recalled how far the festival

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has come, from its inception in the former Papago Brewing Company’s parking lot to various parks in Mesa and Phoenix, growing in tandem with the craft brewing scene.

“It does have an out-of-state component. Even as little as seven years ago, there was only 45 to 50 breweries taking place,” Fullmer says. “This year, we will fight to keep it under 150, but 75 of them will be local to Arizona.”

The main theme at this year’s 20th anniversary edition will be collaboration between entrants, with a goal of reaching 20 beers by the February event.

One such collaboration comes from Tempe powerhouse Huss Brewing, which will release two beers with Odell’s and Avery brewing companies of Colorado.

The collaborations at this year’s event are kept close to the brewer’s vest. The brewery’s area sales manager—he legally goes by one name, Burke—says fans of the company’s beers will love what they have to offer.

Burke believes the Strong Beer Festival provides local brewers from all over to reach a wider audience, while making an impression on potential buyers at the same time.

“These festivals are really fantastic because it allows brands to really showcase not only the beer that we make, but also our personality and the setup,” Burke says. “But it also allows the general public to not only sample local beers that they haven’t had, but also to get in touch with some of the

national brands as well that also live in our space.”

MISNOMER The festival’s name does not mean all beers will contain high percentages of alcohol, as many outposts will feature their mainstays and unique lines of craft beer come February 8.

Fullmer says the original Strong Beer Festival featured an array of high-alcohol beer, but their offerings have evolved as craft brewing has.

“I think we all can agree that the flavor palate of craft beer drinkers and the brewers’ ability to deliver that has changed drastically,” Fullmer says. “And it doesn’t require a lot of extra malt and alcohol to make things work. So, in the last five years we’ve been saying, ‘Strong in flavor. Strong in tradition. Strong in character.’

“To me, it symbolizes how we’ve shifted from a small number of Arizona breweries relying on national breweries to really making ourselves strong and this industry strong.”

Burke and the Huss Brewing team continue to bring an assortment of brews each year, in part because of the festival’s focus on those who work tirelessly to produce the suds.

“I think this event is really fun, because it is a chance to not only showcase ourselves and the beers that we produce, but it’s also an opportunity for our brewers, the people who really make this beer,” Burke says.

“They’re actually the real heroes. And they actually work the event, they go out and see the reactions from the general population, which they don’t see on a day-by-day basis, because they’re in

here at 5 a.m., sometimes 4 a.m., and sometimes leaving at 7 p.m.

“So, I think it’s really awesome to get them out there, get them out in the field.

This year, I’m super excited about the entire collaboration program that the guild is putting on.”

This year’s event will feature other drinks, such as kombuchas and nonmalted beer, along with the stouts, porters, IPAs and pale ales. Fullmer says breweries are smart enough to bring what sells.

“You might decide you’re going to try all of the porters or all of the stouts, but rest assured, you’re going to have choices,” Fullmer says.

Above all, Fullmer adds the Strong Beer Festival is the guild’s main fundraiser. The financial success of the February event will determine how much Fullmer and his team can do to grow craft brewing in the Grand Canyon State. This is his passion.

“This is how we fund our operation, in both promoting breweries and protecting them,” Fullmer says.

“There’s a lot of infrastructural things going on with that. Our festival’s continued to improve because we continue to invest in the process of it.

And again, you’re going to see people and you’re going to meet people and you’re going to have a good time.”

Arizona Strong Beer Festival Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, chooseazbrews.com, 1 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, February 8, $15-$100.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

47

Craft Beer, Cider, Kombucha and Mead Cave Creek tackles variety with new spring festival Connor Dziawura >> The Entertainer!

E

very year, thousands of people descend upon Cave Creek to experience great food. Comprised of dozens of food vendors and plenty of other entertainment, Taste of Cave Creek is arguably the town’s signature event.

But in all of Stagecoach Village’s years of putting on the recurring tasting event, organizers began to track increasing interest in one specific area: brews.

To meet that demand, Event Chairman Adam Stein and his colleagues are launching a new event: the Cave Creek Craft Beer Festival.

Sponsored by the town of Cave Creek, Stagecoach Village and the Cave Creek Beer Company, the inaugural fest starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 29.

“What we’ve noticed at the Taste of Cave Creek is people come up here, they love the food at that event, but they also love the beer at that event,” Stein says.

“We’ve gone from having three brewers to 10 brewers to 15 brewers; last year we had 30 brewers. So, we realize that there’s obviously quite a market for the craft brews and the local breweries.”

General admission, which includes a sampling mug and 20 drink tickets, costs $45. “True beer aficionados,” as Stein calls them, can upgrade to the VIP experience for $60; it adds an extra five drink tickets, $7 toward food, and early access at noon. Passes are available online, in advance, at eventbrite.com.

Stein says there will be discounted designated-driver options, but shuttles are also being planned.

Among the many breweries slated to

participate are big dogs such as PHX Beer Co., State 48 Brewery and SanTan Brewing Company. And with everything from craft beer to cider, kombucha and mead, Stein assures there will likely be something for everyone—including nonalcoholic beverages for DDs. When tapping brands, however, important to him was something many people might neglect: education.

“A lot of times you ask (brewers) questions and the person tells you, ‘Oh, you know what? I’m hired just to pour the beer. I don’t know anything about this beer,’” Stein explains. “The truth is: When that happens, I’m turned off to that beer already, because if I’m coming to a beer festival I want to know about it. I want to know what your thought process was when you mixed ‘that’ hop with ‘this’ hop.

“What we ask of all of our people that are participating is: If you’re going to set up a craft brewer tent, you have to have someone who’s knowledgeable about that craft beer. I want to know about

that craft beer. That’s what’s going to set us apart.”

“Pub food,” as Stein calls it, will be available for purchase to complement the drinks. The Buffalo Chip Saloon and Indigo Crow are among the establishments lined up, as well as “a

couple other little food vendors.”

As Stagecoach Village has plenty of open space to fill and for patrons to wander, Stein estimates more than 50 booths will be there. To top it all off, singer-songwriter Lindsey Vogt will lend her musical talents.

“If you get your beer and you want to sit down and listen to some music from Lindsey Vogt, you can sit down and listen to her,” Stein says. “She plays at all of our Taste of Cave Creek events and is just back by popular demand at this point.”

Because Cave Creek is an equestrian

community, a portion of proceeds will benefit Cave Creek Rodeo Days, a nonprofit that aims to preserve the heritage of the West. Stein and his colleagues always look to help an organization with each event they host.

“What we like about the rodeo

association is they’re giving back to the community as well. So, a portion of our proceeds are going to go back to the rodeo association, which then puts on these rodeos for families to come to Cave Creek and enjoy rodeos and support our equestrian lifestyle,” he explains. “We think it’s a very worthy cause.”

And to keep in line with Cave Creek’s laidback, small-town, Western atmosphere loaded with bars and restaurants, organizers are aiming to keep the event small. Admission will be capped at 3,000 tickets, Stein says.

“It’s Cave Creek. We’re relaxed up here. We’re neighbors,” he says. “We want you to come, we want you to talk to people, we want you to talk to the brewers, and I think people that come to our event are going to realize that we definitely succeeded in that area.”

Cave Creek Craft Beer Festival Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 480.488.6636, cavecreekcraftbeerfestival.com, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 29, $45-$60.

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48

CASINOS

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Gimmie 3 Steps

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The Ultimate Custom Car and Bike Show

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Spotlight

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JD Madrid

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Jukebox 6

Mike Reeves Band

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

49

MIND FREAK

Criss Angel balances son’s cancer battle with love of magic

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

administrative costs. The kids who do go through, look at us and the families don’t feel alone. They can relate to us and see the frustration and anger and the up-and-down rollercoaster we go through.”

Angel is working on a documentary called “1095,” named after the number of days Johnny Crisstopher went through chemotherapy. Angel is hoping the documentary, produced by “At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal’s” Sarah Gibson, will be released this year.

“She and her partner are so talented,” Angel says.

“We’re trying to bring awareness and we’re going to have a huge event. We’ll be announcing that in April. We’re trying to raise many millions of dollars for pediatric cancer, go in front of Congress and enact a legislation to get more funding for this horrible disease.”

The show in Maricopa is “going to be fantastic,” he says.

The show is straight from his Broadway production that is an amalgamation of his Planet Hollywood show in Las Vegas, his TV series and world premiere efforts.

“I love touring,” he says. “I perform 40 weeks a year in Vegas. I have 12 weeks off. Eight or 10 of those 12 weeks I tour because I love it so much. I take it quite seriously. I love getting out there and doing my thing.”

“Criss Angel Raw:

M

agician Criss Angel met a woman two days ago with 19 tattoos of him.

Calmly, he chalks it up to his connection to his fans.

“I can’t believe how many people I’ve met who have been so connected to me because of something I said or did,” Angel says.

“I would have never expected a woman to have 19 tattoos of myself—including my face. It’s because that connection goes beyond the trick. It’s the magic of emotion.”

Angel—who brings his Raw: The Mindfreak Unplugged show to the Events Center at Harrah’s Ak-Chin on Sunday, February 16—has been emotional himself.

His 5-year-old son, Johnny Crisstopher, with Australian singer Shaunyl Benson, is suffering from leukemia after a brief dip into remission.

“I’m always open and positive, especially because of what I’m going through with my son, Johnny Crisstopher,” Angel says.

“You’ll see that I go out there and still appreciate every moment. Every moment’s a blessing. I encourage people to live their dreams. I’m not special. I’m not different, except I work very hard.”

LONGTIME MAGICIAN Angel says he was “6 years young” when he learned his first card trick from his aunt. From there he, admittedly, drove everyone crazy performing the same trick.

“It’s such a sense of power to be able to do something an adult didn’t understand,” Angel says. “I love magic.

When I was 10 or 11, I got a magic set under the Christmas tree. I was obsessed with it. I used to watch magic on television.”

For nearly two decades, Angel has dominated the world of magic, from “Criss Angel Mindfreak” on A&E to TV specials, best-selling books, top-grossing retail products and sold-out tours.

The youngest inductee in the International Magicians Society Hall of Fame, Angel’s performance is a theatrical experience, featuring his famous sleightof-hand street magic, mentalism and some of his most iconic illusions.

“I always wanted to do magic and music. My wish came true. Be careful what you wish for. The fact that I can vanish on stage and reappear in the audience means you can become a doctor, lawyer, actor or magician. My show is a fun night and people will have a great, fun time with me.”

Angel chalks up his success to fans connecting with his message.

“It’s not about what I do or how do I do that trick,” he says. “It’s how you feel when you watch it. I want to inspire and encourage people to conquer their own dreams.”

CANCER BATTLE Johnny Crisstopher is having chemotherapy again for leukemia and will for three years.

“We’re going through this for three years,” Angel says. “That means he’ll be 8 when he’s done, God willing. We just got done with induction. He looks like he’s responding very, very well to treatment. It’s a great sign.

“We’re continuing to be vigilant and doing what we’re supposed to do. Today he had a spinal tap and a biopsy of his bone marrow. They put a device in his back and screw it into his bone and take the marrow out. We’re in the middle of all of that. That happened this morning at the Cure 4 the Kids.”

Cure 4 the Kids Foundation provides treatment to children with lifethreatening conditions in Las Vegas.

“Everything is looking very promising,” he adds. “We know, with this disease—which effects one child every 2 minutes—can change on a dime.

We have a lot of bad days, one great day, but you always have to keep your eyes open and stay vigilant.”

Johnny Crisstopher has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of leukemia in children. It affects the white blood cells developing in the bone marrow, according to the American Cancer Society.

Angel canceled his Las Vegas shows in 2015 to be with Johnny Crisstopher when the child was first diagnosed and began working to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer.

Angel rattles off statistics like it’s rote.

Toxic chemotherapy claims 10% of the children who have it because their organs are so fragile, he says.

“You see an innocent child there and you feel so helpless,” Angel says. “It’s a horrible thing to go through. Whatever you believe is fantastic, but I believe that we’re in the situation not by change but design. I’ve been blessed by so much success.”

Angel has always supported children.

He created the Believe Foundation and was awarded the Make-a-Wish Foundation award for most supportive celebrity in May 2010. He was also awarded the foundation’s Chris Greicius Celebrity Award in 2007.

“All of the money I raise goes to research and treatment,” Angel says. “There is no overhead and no

The Mindfreak Unplugged” The Events Center at Harrah’s AkChin Casino, 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa, caesars.com/ harrahs/ak-chin, ticketmaster. com, 8 p.m. Sunday, February 16, tickets start at $47.50. Show is open to those 18 and older.

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50

SPORTS

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

SPORTS

CALENDAR Christopher Boan >> The Entertainer!

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Edmonton Oilers

FEBRUARY 4 The Arizona Coyotes return home to Glendale to host the Edmonton Oilers during the first full week of February.

The Coyotes are jockeying for first place in the NHL’s Pacific Division.

The Oilers are in a tie for third, as of January 2, with 46 points. The Coyotes last qualified for the NHL’s postseason in 2012, missing out by one spot in 2019. They have the fifth most points of any Western Conference team, as of January 2. The top eight teams in each conference make the postseason, with four coming from each of the conference’s two divisions.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 7 p.m., tickets start at $22.

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Carolina Hurricanes

FEBRUARY 6 The Coyotes finish off their homestand with a clash against the Hurricanes, who ranked fourth in the Metropolitan Division of the NHL’s Eastern Conference, with 50 points in early January. The two sides square off in their lone matchup in the desert this season.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 7 p.m., tickets start at $22.

ASU Men’s Basketball vs.

UCLA Bruins FEBRUARY 6 The Sun Devils finished the

nonconference portion of their schedule with a 9-4 record, with guards Remy Martin (17.9 points per game), Alonzo Verge Jr. (15.2 PPG) and forward Romello White (11.6 PPG) pacing the team’s offense.

The Sun Devils are looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season, a year after finishing 23-11 and beating St. John’s in the First Four round of the 68-team contest. ASU is 22-67 all-time against the Bruins, winning three straight games against UCLA, dating back to 2018.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils. com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $15.

NXT Live

FEBRUARY 7 Professional wrestling returns to the Valley when NXT brings its tour to the Arizona Federal Theatre Downtown in early February. The main event kicks off at 7:30 p.m., with high-flying action in the ring that’s sure to get your pulse pounding.

Desert Federal Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2888, arizonafederaltheatre.com, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $20.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Houston Rockets

FEBRUARY 7 The Suns are back at Talking Stick Arena for the first of two home games in early February, hosting James Harden and the Houston Rockets. As of early January, Phoenix is in 11th place in the NBA’s Western Conference, with the top eight teams in each conference earning playoff berths.

The Rockets are ranked fourth in the conference, thanks to an explosive offense that’s averaging 119.4 points per game, under coach Mike D’Antoni, with guards like Harden and Russell Westbrook lighting up the scoreboard. It’ll be a tough task for first-year Suns

coach Monty Williams and his players to solve the Rockets, but it will be entertaining to see how both sides fare come February 7.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets start at $26.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Denver Nuggets

FEBRUARY 8 Nikola Jokic and the fast-charging Denver Nuggets visit Phoenix in early February, looking to make another deep playoff run this spring. The Nuggets, who boast a 23-10 record, as of January 2, have six players averaging in double figures this year, with Jokic leading all scorers, with 18.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game to his name this year. The team, which is coached

by Michael Malone, should provide quite the challenge for a youthful Suns roster, led by former University of Arizona forward Deandre Ayton and fellow youngsters, like Cam Johnson and Tyler Johnson.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets start at $16.

ASU Men’s Basketball vs.

USC Trojans

FEBRUARY 8 The Devils return to Tempe to host the Trojans of USC on February 8, in a nationally televised game that tips off at 8 p.m. Bobby Hurley’s bunch has stumbled a bit out of the gate this year, with losses to Colorado (in China) as well as Virginia, Saint Mary’s and Creighton.

The team’s home games against UCLA and USC should provide much better clarity as to whether Hurley’s bunch will be NCAA Tournament caliber or not, given the quality of both opposing teams.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils.com, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $15.

Grand Canyon University Men’s Basketball vs.

Kansas City

FEBRUARY 13 The Antelopes of GCU are back in Phoenix for a home swing that includes contests with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Chicago State. The game

against the ‘Roos of UMKC tips off at 7 p.m., with Fox 10 Xtra airing the contest on television. The two Western Athletic Conference teams are seeking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, with the Antelopes vying for their first appearance in the Big Dance. GCU Arena in Phoenix has been featured in several national publications for its unique gameday atmosphere, giving patrons an added bonus of people watching, in addition to the riveting action on the hardwood.

GCU Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.639.8979, gculopes.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.

ASU Women’s Basketball vs.

Washington State

FEBRUARY 14 The Sun Devils’ women’s team returns to Desert Financial Arena with a clash against the Washington State Cougars, seeking to improve upon their 10-3 record, as of January 2. The Devils have four home games left, with the Cougars, as well as the Washington Huskies, Cal Bears and Stanford Cardinal remaining on their schedule, before the Pac-12 Conference Tournament starts on March 5.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils. com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $15.

Grand Canyon University Men’s Basketball vs.

Chicago State

FEBRUARY 15 The Antelopes conclude their two-game homestand with a clash against the Panthers of Chicago State in mid-February. The contest, which tips off at 6 p.m., has the added bonus of being “God Bless America Night,” adding a patriotic twist to a fun night of basketball. The ‘Lopes have won eight of their 10 matchups with CSU since both joined the Western Athletic Conference.

GCU Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.639.8979, gculopes.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.

ASU gymnastics vs.

UCLA Bruins

FEBRUARY 15 The ASU gymnastics team returns to Tempe for a matinee showcase against the world-renowned Bruins

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

of UCLA. The event, which will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network, is the 13th all-time meeting between the two programs, with UCLA winning 10 of its previous encounters, dating back to 1999.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils.com, 3:30 p.m., tickets start at $10.

extravaganza starts at 5:30 p.m. this year, giving fans a chance to watch their favorite wrestlers beat the living daylights out of each other without having to stay out late.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena.com, 5:30 p.m., tickets start at $30.

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Washington Capitals

Cactus League Games (Various locations)

FEBRUARY 15 The Coyotes return to Gila River Arena to play host to the topranked team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. The contest, which starts at 8 p.m., is the lone matchup in the desert between the Coyotes and the winners of the 2018 Stanley Cup. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 8 p.m., tickets start at $35.

Arizona Coyotes vs.

New York Islanders

FEBRUARY 17 The Islanders make a long trek to Phoenix on February 17 to face off against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Playoff odds will take a hit with a loss to the Islanders for the home side, as the visitors are the second-ranked team in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, as of January 2.

The rare weekday matinee contest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day allows fans of the team the chance to take in some hockey on their day off from work, which is a win-win for all involved.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 2 p.m., tickets start at $19.

ASU Men’s Basketball vs.

Oregon

FEBRUARY 20 The Sun Devils host the red-hot Oregon Ducks in Tempe in midFebruary, with a chance to boost their NCAA Tournament resume with a victory. Victories over the Ducks have been hard to come by for ASU, however, as the team has lost two straight against the team, with a 15-22 all-time record against Oregon. The Devils are 1-9 in their last 10 games against their visitors from Eugene.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils. com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $14.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown FEBRUARY 21 The biggest starts in professional wrestling return to Gila River Arena in Glendale for a night of WWE SmackDown. The annual

FEBRUARY 21 TO MARCH 22 Baseball’s annual fiesta returns for a month of exhibition fun, with 15 teams holding their training routine in the Valley. The games might not count against the year-end total, but don’t tell that to the diehards who take up their ritualistic spots in the many berms and outfield lawns of the team’s facilities.

Various locations, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Surprise, Goodyear, cactusleague.com, times and tickets vary.

ASU Men’s Basketball vs.

Oregon State University

FEBRUARY 22 The Devils are tasked with an unenviable 9 p.m. tipoff time against Oregon State on February 22, a feat that’s sure to draw the ire of fans and broadcasters.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils. com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $15.

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Tampa Bay Lightning

FEBRUARY 22 The Coyotes welcome Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning to Gila River Arena, bringing two of the league’s most explosive offenses together. The Coyotes are on track to qualify for the NHL’s 16-team playoffs for the first time in a half-decade, but they will need to pick up points against quality teams, like the Lightning, to have a shot at making it to the postseason.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 7 p.m., tickets start at $25.

Arizona Coyotes vs.

Florida Panthers

FEBRUARY 25 The Coyotes wrap up their twogame Florida homestand against the Panthers, who are fourth in the NHL’s Atlantic Division. Florida is led offensively by center Jonathan Huberdeau, who has 16 goals and 37 assists to his name this season.

Fellow center Aleksander Barkov is second on the team in points (45), with 13 goals and 32 assists this year.

The Panthers will test the hometown Coyotes’ patience with a rocksolid defense and an offense that capitalizes off mistakes. This could be a high-scoring clash, giving fans a reason to make the trek to Glendale on a late February Tuesday night.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 7 p.m., tickets start at $13.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Los Angeles Clippers

FEBRUARY 26 The Clippers made waves in the offseason for signing Kawhi Leonard and trading half their team to Oklahoma City for the rights to Paul George. Those moves have paid off in full so far, with the team sitting in second place in the Pacific Division, behind intra-city rival Lakers, with a 24-11 mark, as of January 2. Expect the Suns to have their hands full, as the Clippers rank fifth in the league in points per game scored (115.0), while ranking 18th in points allowed (108.2).

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets starting at $24.

Grand Canyon University Men’s Basketball vs. New Mexico State University

FEBRUARY 27 The ‘Lopes and Aggies have created one of the best rivalries out West over the last few years, with the winner deciding the WAC regular season title with regularity. Dan Majerle’s team is down this year, with a 5-9 record, as of January 2, but the two teams’ bad blood continues nonetheless. Expect the two sides to throw everything they can at each other for 40 minutes, as there’s no love lost between the two programs.

GCU Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.639.8979, gculopes.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Detroit Pistons

FEBRUARY 28 The Suns will look to get back on track, hosting a Detroit Pistons team that’s 11th in the Eastern Conference, as of January 2. The Pistons rank in the middle of the 30-team NBA, ranking 19th in points per game (108.3) and 13th in points allowed per game (110.9). Center Andre Drummond leads all Pistons in scoring this year, averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting a team-high 54.2% from the field.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets start at $26.

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ASU Women’s Basketball vs.

California

FEBRUARY 28 The Devils women’s team returns to Tempe to host a Cal Bears squad that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Arizona State has won 25 of its last 40 contests with the Bears, though the two teams split their meetings last season. Expect a low-scoring contest, as both teams rank highly in the nation in points allowed per game this year.

Desert Financial Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, 480.727.0000, thesundevils.com, time TBA, tickets start at $15.

Grand Canyon University Men’s Basketball vs.

Texas Rio Grande Valley

FEBRUARY 29 Two Western Athletic Conference squads go toe-to-toe in Phoenix on February 29, as the Antelopes of GCU host Texas Rio Grande Valley. The two sides have met 12 times, with GCU winning nine of those contests.

Coach Dan Majerle’s GCU team has had its share of struggles, posting a 5-9 mark, as of January 2. They’ll look to get back on track in conference play against teams like UTRGV. GCU Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.639.8979, gculopes.com, time TBA, tickets start at $5.

Phoenix Suns vs.

Golden State Warriors

FEBRUARY 29 The dynasty that coach Steve Kerr and guard Steph Curry built in the Bay Area has corroded, thanks to free-agent departures and numerous injuries. The Warriors have won five straight Western Conference titles, but have stumbled to a 9-26 record, as of January 2. The Warriors may be a bastardized version of their previous, championshipwinning selves, but should still provide a challenge for the Suns.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets start at $26.

Phoenix Coyotes vs.

Buffalo Sabres

FEBRUARY 29 The boys from Buffalo make a long trek to the Valley to face off against the Coyotes in late February. The visitors have struggled mightily this year, posting a 17-17-7 mark, as of January 2, but they feature a world-class talent in center Jack Eichel, who leads the team in goals (25), assists (28) and points (53).

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, nhl.com/coyotes, 6 p.m., tickets start at $20.

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UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

SPRIN TRAI G NI 2020NG

RETURNING HOME

D-backs Fan Fest slides into Chase Field Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

T

he Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Fest is returning to Chase Field, where President and CEO Derrick Hall always wanted it to be.

The annual event was held at the team’s Spring Training facility, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, from 2016 to 2019 because Chase Field was hosting other events. At the time, the team did not control Chase Field’s schedule.

But now that Fan Fest is returning to Chase Field on Saturday, February 15, the D-backs—and their fans—no longer have to worry about adverse weather or dusty environs.

“We ran into some weather issues, which we never have here,” Hall says at Chase Field. “The biggest advantage

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to having it here downtown is it’s easier for all parties to get to. We have control with the weather. We can just close the roof. This year, we’re using every square foot of the building, on every level, and hosting wider tours than we’ve ever had in the past.”

Running until 3 p.m., Fan Fest will open for season ticket holders at 9:30 a.m. and the general public at 11 a.m. Hall is expecting record crowds. Fans can obtain free tickets at dbacks.com/fanfest.

“I think our attendance will be huge,” he says. “Fans have already gotten used to the free tickets. We’re already over 10,000—and we’re a month-plus away. I expect us to have 20,000, 30,000 again.

It was over 30,000 the last time we had it here.”

The clubhouse tours will include previously uncharted territory, including the weight room, the laundry room and the players’ dining area.

“Fans really wanted to feel like a player, so we expanded the tour,” he says.

Festivalgoers can also play catch on the field and learn the basics with the team’s baseball outreach staff. Kids can have fun on the inflatables and at the Little League baseball stations. The World

Series trophy will be near home plate so fans can take pictures with it.

At Chase Field, the concession stands will be open, as will the Cox Virtual Reality Cages. Near center field, kids can take part in arts and crafts. Also available in the upper concourse is the STEM Dugout, which allows kids to learn STEM-related facts, play baseballthemed games and take photos within the D-backs dugout next to manager Torey Lovullo.

Fans are encouraged to tour the 20th Anniversary Experience on the main concourse in right field behind the Coors Light Strike Zone. The area features historic artifacts, memorabilia, photography and a wall with signed baseballs from nearly all D-backs players and coaches. The experience also includes a showcase of the team’s 2001 World Series championship and several Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and Cy Young awards won by D-backs players.

The much-coveted Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Yard Sale— where trinkets, T-shirts and bobbleheads are sold for charity—will be in the main rotunda area.

The bullpen cart will be out so fans

can photograph it.

Season ticket holders will be treated to a player autograph session on the suite level. Players will rotate for the remainder of the fans.

“Season ticket holders can go there, and we’ll distribute clear bags because we have a clear bag policy now,” Hall says.

Each fan may carry one bag that is clear plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a 1-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar). Additionally, fans may also carry a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, with or without a handle or strap, that is subject to search.

“We have a lot going on,” he says.

“It’s going to be all interactive and showcasing the whole ballpark.”

D-backs Fan Fest 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, February 15 Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix Free admission; tickets required dbacks.com/fanfest

‘A DREAM COME TRUE’ Kole Calhoun is looking forward to stepping into Chase Field 54

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

B

uckeye Union High School graduate Kole Calhoun calls signing a two-year deal with the D-backs “a dream come true.”

The terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“I was born and raised here, so I grew up a Diamondbacks fan,” Calhoun says.

“As a kid, I always dreamed of playing for the Diamondbacks and now I have the opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited.”

His former team, the Los Angeles Angels, bought out for $1 million the $14 million option on Calhoun’s contract.

“When the Angels decided to decline my option, (the D-backs) were calling,” he says.

“I think just for me, personally, I wanted to be on a team who wanted me.

Having that phone call the very first day and for the Diamondbacks to be so engaging, it was something I wanted.”

Calhoun, 32, ranks third among all AL outfielders since 2014 in RBI (416) and total bases (1,406), trailing Mike Trout/LAA (533 RBI/1,758 TB) and Mookie Betts/BOS (455 RBI/1,616 TB) respectively.

Additionally, Calhoun is fourth

during that span, with 132 home runs, behind Trout (217), George Springer/ HOU (149) and Betts (137), and 821 hits, which are fewer than only Betts (935), Trout (881) and Brett Gardner/ NYY (834).

Defensively, the former Arizona State Sun Devil (2009-10) is a four-time American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist in right field (2015, 20172019), including winning the top fielding award in 2015. In the last five years (201519), Calhoun leads all right fielders with 6,478 innings and 45 assists.

A 2006 Buckeye Union High School graduate, Calhoun will become the sixth D-back to play baseball in high school, college (four-year university) and the Major Leagues in Arizona (also: Jake Barrett, Tuffy Gosewisch, Merrill Kelly, Cody Ransom and Ed Vosberg), and eighth Sun Devil to don a D-backs jersey (also: Willie Bloomquist, Jake Elmore, Mike Leake, Deven Marrero, Barrett, Gosewisch and Kelly). Calhoun was teammates with current D-backs pitcher Merrill Kelly at Yavapai College and ASU. A Tempe resident, Calhoun set career highs in 2019 with the Angels in home runs (33), slugging pct. (.467), OPS (.792), extra-base hits (63) and runs scored (92).

Calhoun remembers watching the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees on

SPRIN TRAI G NI 2020NG

television. Having the opportunity to play in Chase Field is exciting.

“It’s something that’s very, very special for me,” Calhoun says. “Getting to wear that uniform and representing the Diamondbacks is something I’m definitely looking forward to. I really can’t wait to get started.”

Calhoun admits the recent signing of former San Francisco Giants All-Star Madison Bumgarner further encouraged him to ink with the D-backs.

“That was another big factor for me,” he says. “As I was getting further along in my career, I wanted to go to a team who is really looking to win. This team has really made a splash with a free-agent arm. It’s really exciting, and all of these factors come into play.”

Playing for the D-backs fits his mold as a player, Calhoun adds.

“I’m go out and play really hard,” he says. “I leave it all out there on the field.

I’m looking forward to fine tuning going into next season. Honestly, I’m going to come to the ballpark ready to compete.

“I know I’m definitely getting older—I mean, age is not really on my side and I know that—but recovery has become something that’s very vital to me.”

He’s thrilled, though, to join the likes of David Peralta, Bumgarner and Robbie Ray. “We have a great group of guys,” he says. “The pieces they’ve added since last season, along with the core group of guys who are there, I’m just really excited about it.”

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JUST LIKE COMING HOME

Haley Smilow >> The Entertainer!

MARCH

A

fter trading Zack Greinke last season to the Houston Astros at the 11th hour, the Arizona Diamondbacks saved roughly $54 million, but still needed a leader.

“When we traded Zack away last year, we knew we were missing something at the top of our rotation, and we just didn’t put that as something we wanted to regain,” General Manager Mike Hazen says.

The team found a leader in Madison Bumgarner, who signed with the D-backs for five years for $85 million.

Hazen says the 10-year Giant was a logical fit.

“We would be silly not to pursue it,” Hazen says. “We knew that, over the next couple of years, finding somebody to anchor our rotation was going to be something we needed.

“That’s why we pursued Madison.”

Bumgarner says it was difficult to leave behind his San Francisco fans, who had been with him for a decade and through three World Series championships. He’s excited to move on through.

“I am thrilled to be a Diamondback, and I’m just really excited to get started in this process,” he says.

Bumgarner took several things into consideration when making his decision to sign with the D-backs.

“First off, they’ve got a really good team and a lot of young guys who are coming up,” Bumgarner says. “I think that they are headed in a really good direction and they play hard. I would say that they have a bunch of grinders on this team—guys who don’t take any pitch off and they are a hard-nose group of guys. They also play what, in my

mind, is my brand of baseball. They play the way that I like to play.”

His decision was also based on the team’s location.

“I’ve got to spend a lot of time here, and it’s a beautiful place,” Bumgarner says.

“A ton of people want to come here and move to the area, but to me it just feels like where I am supposed to be.

Because I’ve played out here for so long, I have lots of friends out here. It’s truly like home to me.”

Bumgarner has friends in Stephen Vogt and Matt Herges, his former catcher and pitching coach, respectively.

Vogt signed a one-year contract in November with the D-backs. Herges was hired on October 31 by the D-backs as their pitching coach.

“I’m excited to have those guys here,” he says. “Vogt is awesome. He is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, and I was only with him for a year. Herges is going to be a really, really good pitching coach. I’m excited about it.”

Bumgarner will serve in a capacity beyond pitching—role model for younger pitchers.

Bumgarner and Hazen aren’t the only one’s excited about the start of the 2020 season. Manager Torey Lovullo has kind words to say about Bumgarner.

“He speaks for himself,” Lovullo says. “He has an incredible track record. He has won world championships and he is able to get himself out there every fi fth day. Th at is something that we are looking forward to, and I know the 25 guys who are going to be playing around him are excited. Coming to the ballpark that day, I’ll be looking forward to watching him go to work.

I’m thrilled that he is here, and it is an honor to be sitting up here with him.

I’m glad that we are here together.”

FEBRUARY

Madison Bumgarner ready to hit the Chase Field mound

9

SUN

16

10

MON

11

TUES

12

17

18

19

WED

THURS

13

14

20

21

FRI

15 22

SAT

ARI1:10

23

OAK1:10

24

CLE1:10 LAD1:10

25

26

TEX1:10

27

1

LAA1:10

2

SF1:10 CHC1:10

3

4

CLE1:10

5

8

CLE1:10

9

KC1:10

10

CIN1:10 CWS1:10

12

MIL1:10

15

CHC1:10

16

SF6:40

17

CWS1:10 GCU6:10

18

19

LAA1:10 20 SEA6:40 21 MIL6:40

22

COL1:10

23

24

SEA 12:10

11

OAK6:40

CIN1:10 28 SEA1:10 29 LAD1:10 KC1:10 6 COL1:10 13

SD1:10

7

SD1:10

14

TEX1:10

D-backs Home Game Rockies Home Game MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament

All times subject to change. All times Arizona time.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

56

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

SPRING TRAINING 2020 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

CHICAGO CUBS

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale 480.270.5000 saltriverfields.com azdiamondbacks.com DESCRIPTION: The Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies share Salt River Fields, a luxurious, massive facility that boasts healthy foods, huge concourses, lots of seating and a massive lawn.

PARKING: The lot has 4,000 spaces: $5 general parking; $10 “Perfect Game” parking; $20 valet; and $15 for RVs and buses; hybrid parking spots courtesy of APS GATES: There are four gates at Salt River. Center Field, Home Plate, D-backs Gate, Rockies Gate. Gates open an hour and 40 minutes prior to game time; times may vary during doubleheaders.

TICKETS: Ticket prices depend on the day and opponent, 480.362.9467, dbacks.com BEST PLACE TO SIT: Check out the two party decks, on the top deck of

Sloan Park 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa 480.668.0500 or 1.800.THE.CUBS chicago.cubs.mlb.com

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23 OAK

24

Mar. 1 CLE

2

8

9

1:10 p.m.

SF

1:10 p.m.

CHI

15

SF

KC

25

1:10 p.m.

3

KC

6:05 p.m.

10

1:10 p.m.

16

CHI

12:05 p.m.

CIN

26 OAK

27

4

5

CLE

11

CIN

1:10 p.m.

TEX

1:10 p.m.

12

MIL

1:10 p.m.

17 CWS 18 1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

22 COL

LAD

MIL

GCU

19

LAA

6:10 p.m.

23

24

25

26

Friday

Saturday

Feb. 21

22

28

29

SEA

1:10 p.m.

6

COL

1:10 p.m.

13

SF

7:05 p.m.

20

SEA

7

LAD

LAA

1:10 p.m.

14 SD

1:10 p.m.

TEX

1:10 p.m.

21

6:40 p.m.

27

COL

CHI

28

CWS

30

31

CONCESSIONS: Pizza, Southwestern, noodles, ice cream, beer, some cocktails and additional vendors.

the stadium, in the infield.

The section has seats and a stand-up bar for more casual viewing.

PARKING: Parking is $10 (reserved) or $5 (general) per vehicle or motorcycle. Buses or RVs will be charged $14. Spots are available on a first-come basis. Parking lots open four hours prior to game time.

Reserved handicap parking is in the blue lot. General handicap parking is located in the yellow lot. New in 2020: Fans can pay for parking using credit cards.

TICKETS: Buy tickets by calling 1.800.

THE.CUBS. In 2020, the Cubs will offer mobile ticketing through MLB Ballpark App; mlb.com/cubs/sloan-park

12:05 p.m.

29

DESCRIPTION: The Cactus League’s newest stadium is the 1.46-acre Sloan Park, a 15,000-capacity ballpark owned and operated by the Chicago Cubs.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: The Bleacher Bum atmosphere lives on in the outfield lawn seating, which features shaded trellis seating and

CLEVELAND INDIANS

PARKING: The lot has 3,000 spaces; $5 per car for stadium parking.

Free parking is available on an .6-mile stretch of Wood Boulevard.

GATES: Ballpark gates open 1.5 hours prior to game time. Practice field gates open at 9:30 a.m. daily.

TICKETS Ticket prices range from $8 to $31; children 3 and under do not need a ticket; 623.882.3120, goodyearbp.com.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: In the outfield grass, aim for left field to avoid the sun and have a view of the center field scoreboard.

CONCESSIONS: There are four signature fixed

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

KC

24

Mar. 1 AZ

2

8

9

COL

COL

TEX SF

25 CWS

26

3

4

LAA

10

27

SD

1:10 p.m.

5

AZ

1:10 p.m.

11

LAA

KC

12

LAD

SF

SD

Friday

Saturday

Feb. 21

22

28 CWS

29 OAK

6

7

OAK

13

MIL

14

CIN

CHI

CHI

1:10 p.m.

15

22

COL

CIN

16

LAD

23

17 SEA

1:10 p.m.

18

CIN 24

25

TEX

19 CWS

20

26

27

6:05 p.m.

MIL

21

SEA

28

12:05 p.m.

29

30

31

concessions stands throughout the ballpark as well as 24 portable sales units with a variety of food and beverage offerings. Portable stands

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

LAD

24

SEA

Mar. 1 SEA

2 LAA

8

9

AZ

15

AZ

25

1:10 p.m.

3

COL

OAK 10

16

17

1:10 p.m.

22

MIL

23

SD

COL

SF

COL

24

26

27

KC

4

CIN

11

SD

5

TEX

12

LAD

6:05 p.m.

18

19

KC

TEX

CIN

Friday

Saturday

Feb. 21

22 OAK

28

29

SD

6:40 p.m.

6

CWS

7

MIL

CLE

13 CWS

14

20

21 OAK

SF

LAA

1:10 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

AZ

25

26

27

28

12:05 p.m. 12:05 p.m.

29

30

31

high-top tables all overlooking leftfield.

of Chicago are among the siz different concession areas that have themes tied to Chicago or the Southwest.

CONCESSIONS: Windy City Dog and A Taste

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale 480.362.9467 saltriverfields.com coloradorockies.com

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Sunday

COLORADO ROCKIES

Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear 623.882.3130 goodyearbp.com indians.com DESCRIPTION: The 10,000-seat Goodyear Ballpark plays host to the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. It’s one of the more family-friendly parks in the Cactus League, featuring inflatable attractions and a kid-sized whiffle ball field on the first base side.

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

include nachos, shaved ice, margaritas, specialty sandwiches, ice cream, cotton candy and kettle corn.

DESCRIPTION: The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks share Salt River Fields, a luxurious, massive facility that boasts healthy foods, huge concourses, lots of seating and a massive lawn.

PARKING: The lot has 4,000 spaces: $5 general parking; $10 “Perfect Game” parking; $20 valet; and $15 for RVs and buses; hybrid parking spots courtesy of APS GATES: There are four gates at Salt River. Center Field, Home Plate, D-backs Gate, Rockies Gate. Gates open an hour and 40 minutes prior to game time; times may vary during doubleheaders.

TICKETS: Ticket prices depend on the day and opponent, 480.362.9467, dbacks.com BEST PLACE TO SIT: Check out the two party decks, on the top deck of

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

23

LAA

24

1:10 p.m.

Mar. 1 LAA

2

8

9

15

22

CLE

CLE

AZ

CLE

SEA

25

3

10

SF

17

6:40 p.m.

23

SEA

24

12:05 p.m. 6:40 p.m.

29

30

26

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

16

CHI

CHI

CIN

CHI

SEA

4

TEX

TEX

11

CWS

Friday

Saturday

Feb. 21

22

27 OAK

28

29

5 CWS

6

7

13 CIN

14

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

SF

7:05 p.m.

KC 12

MIL

6:05 p.m.

SD

18 OAK

19

20

25

26

27

SEA

21

AZ

LAD

LAD

KC

MIL

28

31

the stadium, in the infield.

The section has seats and a stand-up bar for more casual viewing.

CONCESSIONS: Pizza, noodles, Southwestern, ice cream, beer, some cocktails and additional vendors.

57

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

SPRING TRAINING 2020 CHICAGO WHITE SOX

CINCINNATI REDS

Glendale Camelback Ranch 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623.302.5000 camelbackranchbaseball.com whitesox.com DESCRIPTION: Home to the White Sox and Dodgers, Camelback Ranch was completed in 2009 and boasts a capacity of 13,000 – including 3,000 lawn seats, 12 luxury suites and a party deck. It is adjacent to a manmade lake.

PARKING: Parking in the complex’s 4,000 spots is free at the driver’s risk. The west lot off 107th Avenue is closest to the Ranch stadium. No overnight parking.

TICKETS: $15-$47, available at whitesox.com or 623.302.5000.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: Clearly, in front of the firstbase concourse, where 100foot shade structures were added.

Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear 623.882.3130 goodyearbp.com reds.com

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

CIN

24

Mar. 1 LAA

2

8 KC

9

LAD

SD

1:10 p.m.

CIN

SD

1:10 p.m.

15

SEA

16

1:10 p.m.

22

AZ

CIN

25 SF

26

KC

CLE 3

OAK

10

TEX

17 MIL

4

MIL

11

COL

18

27

5

SEA

COL

12

19

AZ

Friday

Feb. 21

22

28

29

CLE

6

13

CLE

CHI

CHI

20 OAK

1:10 p.m.

23

24

25

26

Saturday

27

LAA

TEX

7

SF

14

21

LAD

LAD

12:05 p.m.

30

31

CONCESSIONS: There are four signature fixed

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

TICKETS: Tickets range from $8$35. Children 2 and under are free, but must sit on a ticketholders lap.

623.222.2222, surprisespringtraining.com BEST PLACE TO SIT: Much of the stadium is shaded in the afternoon, but the infield upper deck provides canopied seating. The lawn is spacious and gives attendees plenty of room to spread out.

CONCESSIONS: Plenty of options, from cot-

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

CLE

24

Mar. 1 OAK

2

8

9

CWS

15

SF

SD

25

3

TEX

AZ

6:05 p.m.

AZ

1:10 p.m.

16

10 MIL

26 CHI

LAD

6:05 p.m.

22

23

24

29

30

31

SD

5

11

CLE

18 CHI

MIL

COL

1:10 p.m.

OAK 17

27

CWS 4

12

SEA

19

KC

CIN

Friday

ton candy to brats to beer.

Surprise also lets visitors bring in packaged food if it’s in a clear, sealed bag.

26

Saturday

Feb. 21 TEX

22

28

29

6

13

SF

LAA

TEX

6:05 p.m.

20

1:10 p.m.

25

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23 CWS

24

Mar. 1 MIL

2

8

9

LAA

15

22

LAD

CLE

25 TEX

LAD

CWS

16

CWS

LAA

26

1:10 p.m.

27

SEA

1:10 p.m.

3

4

10 AZ

11

5

CHI

23

24

30

31

CLE

MIL

12

COL 17

AZ

SEA

Friday

22

28 OAK

29

6

7

19 KC

SD

6:40 p.m.

OAK

13

1:10 p.m.

18

Saturday

Feb. 21

COL

6:05 p.m.

20

TEX

CLE SD KC

14

SF

6:05 p.m.

21

SF

CHI

25

26

27

28

12:05 p.m.

29

concessions stands throughout the ballpark as well as 24 portable sales units with a variety of food and beverage offerings. Portable stands

include nachos, shaved ice, margaritas, specialty sandwiches, ice cream, cotton candy and kettle corn.

Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe 480.350.5205 tempe.gov/diablo angels.mlb.com

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Surprise Stadium 15850 N. Bullard Avenue, Surprise 623.222.2222 surpriseaz.gov/files/springtraining/ kcroyals.com

PARKING: Parking is free.

GATES: Ballpark gates open 1.5 hours prior to game time. Practice field gates open at 9:30 a.m. daily.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: In the outfield grass, aim for leftfield to avoid the sun and have a view of the center field scoreboard.

CONCESSIONS: Pastrami sandwiches, smoked barbecue, Dodger Dogs and Vienna Beef Chicago Dogs.

DESCRIPTION: The 2015 World Series champs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Texas Rangers share the 10,500seat Surprise Stadium that features a spectacular lawn.

The 124-acre site is routinely praised for its well-conceived design with lots of shaded seating.

PARKING: The lot has 3,000 spaces; $5 per car for stadium parking.

Free parking is available on an .6-mile stretch of Wood Boulevard.

TICKETS: Ticket prices range from $8 to $31; children 3 and younger free; 623.882.3120, goodyearbp.com.

28

12:05 p.m.

29

DESCRIPTION: The 10,000-seat Goodyear Ballpark plays host to the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. It’s one of the more family-friendly parks in the Cactus League, featuring inflatable attractions and a kid-sized whiffle ball field on the first base side.

27

LAD

LAA SEA

1:10 p.m.

7

SEA

14

COL

21

TEX

12:05 p.m.

28

DESCRIPTION: Tempe Diablo Stadium was built in 1968 and underwent an extensive renovation in 2005. Perched on the side of Tempe’s rocky Twin Buttes, the stadium complex shares the picturesque landscape with the adjacent Buttes Resort and is one of the Cactus League’s most centrally located ballparks.

PARKING: Stadium lots are close and $5, but you need to arrive early. 1,350 spaces on opposite sides of the stadium.

Patrons can park at one of two Downtown Tempe Park-iT locations: City Hall or Hayden Square. Parking tickets are validated at the trolley stop at Fifth Street and Mill Avenue. The trolley hits the stadium every 20 minutes starting two hours before game time, until 30 minutes after the game.

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

COL

24

1:10 p.m.

Mar. 1 COL CWS

2

8 CIN

9

MIL

CHI

25

CIN

1:10 p.m.

3

CLE

1:10 p.m.

MIL 15 TEX MIL

CLE

1:10 p.m.

16

SD

1:10 p.m.

26

10

4

27

LAD

1:10 p.m.

5

SEA

17 OAK

18

19

25

22

23

24

29

30

31

28

29

TEX

1:10 p.m.

6

KC

13

1:10 p.m.

KC

when it starts at $15.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: It’s tough to beat the sizeable grass berm seating in leftfield

CONCESSIONS: Left field offers street tacos, BBQ chicken, beef, ribs, pok,

SF

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

TICKETS: $15-$55 (varies by opponent), available at angels.mlb.com.

7

SF

AZ

1:10 p.m.

12

1:10 p.m.

Saturday

22 CWS

1:10 p.m.

11 OAK

SEA

SD

Friday

Feb. 21

26

AZ

20

LAD

14

CHI

1:10 p.m.

21

12:10 p.m.

27

28

nachos, soda, beer and hot dogs. Some outside food allowed; check for restrictions.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

58

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

SPRING TRAINING 2020 LOS ANGELES DODGERS

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Glendale Camelback Ranch 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale 623.302.5000 camelbackranchbaseball.com dodgers.com DESCRIPTION: The Sonoran Desert-inspired home to the Dodgers and White Sox, Camelback Ranch was completed in 2009 and boasts a capacity of 13,000 – including 3,000 lawn seats, 12 luxury suites and a party deck. It is adjacent to a manmade lake and a traditional Dodgertown orange grove that sits on the east side of the property beyond the leftfield wall of replica Dodger Stadium.

PARKING: Parking in the complex’s 4,000 parking spots is free.

The west lot off 107th Avenue is the closest to the stadium.

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

23

Tuesday

24 CWS

25

Mar. 1 TEX

2

3

8

9

CHI

TEX

CIN

22

CIN

SD

AZ

Wednesday

16

CLE

LAA

4

Thursday

27

5

SF

6:05 p.m.

10

11

MIL

17

KC

18

6:05 p.m.

Friday

CHI MIL

22

28

29 AZ

6

MIL

SEA

SEA

6:40 p.m.

20 KC LAA

26

27

SF

COL 7

COL

6:05 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

25

Saturday

Feb. 21

12 OAK 13

19

SD

CLE

OAK

6:05 p.m.

24

30

26

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

23

29

BEST PLACE TO SIT: Avoid sun in the eyes and enjoy a close-up view of the bullpen in the left-field grass seating. Every seat

Monday

 Home  Away

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

15

TICKETS: $10-$64, available at dodgers.com or 623.302.5000.

American Family Fields of Phoenix 3600 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix 623.245.5500 brewers.com

14 CWS 21 CWS

12:05 p.m.

28

31

smoked barbecue, Dodger Dogs and Vienna Beef Chicago Dogs.

CONCESSIONS: Pastrami sandwiches,

PARKING: Public parking is available throughout downtown Scottsdale; or consider parking at a bar with shuttle service.

Some parking areas have a 3 hour limit. Handicap parking is located in the City Court Parking lot and the Civil Venter Parking structure.

TICKETS: $35-$67, available at sfgiants. com; 480.312.2580.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: Spring the extra money for assigned seating in the lower section. Bleacher seating is brutal, especially during afternoon games – it’s squished and hot. Between bleacher

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Tuesday

24

Mar. 1 SD

2

1:10 p.m.

8

15

22

29

SEA

KC

AZ

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

AZ

26

3

4

1:10 p.m.

9

16

CLE

COL

10

17

6:40 p.m.

23

30

Friday

Feb. 21

25 CWS

24

TEX

CHI

TEX

MIL

LAD

27

18

TEX

SEA

1:10 p.m.

5

6:05 p.m.

11

CLE

28

COL

Saturday

22

6 MIL COL

LAD

29

LAA

6:40 p.m.

7

CWS

7:05 p.m.

12

13

AZ

7:05 p.m.

19 OAK

20 CHI

7:05 p.m.

25

26

14

CIN

6:05 p.m.

21

CIN

SD 27

28

31

and lawn, we’d choose lawn.

CONCESSIONS: The outfield line has the fancy food: barbecue, garlic

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

23

SD

24 LAA OAK

Mar. 1 CIN

2

8 LAA

9

LAA

3

SEA

SD

26

4

1:10 p.m.

SEA

10

7:5 p.m.

OAK. 15

25

16

KC

27

SF

CWS

11

LAD

5

CIN

12 AZ

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

17 CWS

18

23

24

25

30

31

KC

Saturday

22

28

29

6

LAD

SF

13

COL 19 LAD

AZ

Friday

Feb. 21

20

SEA

CLE

CLE

7

TEX

CHI

TEX

14 OAK 21

COL

6:40 p.m.

22

CHI

26

27

28

12:05 p.m.

29

CONCESSIONS: The standards, plus some Milwaukee-area favorites like brats. Built-in food stands, and roaming concourse and

seat vendors available.

Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria 623.773.8700 peoriaspringtraining.com mariners.com

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23 OAK

Tuesday

SEATTLE MARINERS

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Monday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

BEST PLACE TO SIT: Brewers infield seats are among the cheapest in the league at $27. The lawn is massive, and at $8, tickets are almost always available.

Scottsdale Stadium 7428 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale 480.312.2586 scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium sfgiants.com

Monday

Sunday

PARKING: Parking, $5, is aplenty, thanks to the renovation project.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Sunday

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

TICKETS: Tickets range from $8-$32.

at Camelback Ranch has a back.

DESCRIPTION: The Giants are always among the hottest tickets in town.

With its downtown location, Scottsdale Stadium is crammed with pre- and postgame activity options. Make sure to secure tickets before heading down to the game; scalpers typically get top dollar, especially on weekends.

Game Schedule February/March

DESCRIPTION: The Brewers remain one of only a handful of Cactus League teams to have its own stadium, the 7,000-capacity American Family Fields of Phoenix, formerly known as Maryvale Baseball Park. With gorgeous sightlines, a huge concourse and a massive lawn, American Family Fields of Phoenixupped the ante with a year-long renovation.

The ballpark’s 7,000 seats, plus lush outfield berm, assure an intimate baseball experience in a fan-friendly, relaxed setting.

fries, and lots of beer and soda.

DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1994, the 12,000-plus-seat Peoria Sports Complex is home to the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.

PARKING: During Spring Training, parking is $5. Buses carrying groups are not charged for parking. Recreational vehicle parking is $10. Ride share pickups and drop offs can be accessed at Stadium Way. All overnight parking is prohibited.

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

23

TEX

1:10 p.m.

24

2

8

9

15 CWS

BEST PLACE TO SIT: For afternoon games, those seated in sections 205 to 219 and 105 to 121 on the thirdbase line and lawn seating in leftfield have the sun at their backs.

22

1:10 p.m.

29

25

MIL

3

26

4

MIL

7:05 p.m.

16

23

TEX

COL

10

LAA

11

LAA

17

CLE

18

1:10 p.m.

24

COL

SD

6:40 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

30

CIN

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

SD

COL

Saturday

22

SD

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

Mar. 1 CHI

SF

CHI

Friday

Feb. 21

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

TICKETS: Tickets range from $12-$33; peoriasportscomplex.com

CONCESSIONS: Beer, soft drinks, brats, hamburgers, hot dogs (including the “Ruthian foot-long”) and

Monday

27 SF

1:10 p.m.

CWS 5

SD

1:10 p.m.

12 CIN

1:10 p.m.

KC

19

MIL

6:40 p.m.

25

31

snacks. Great “beer mana” coverage in the stands.

26

28

AZ

1:10 p.m.

6

LAD

6:05 p.m.

13

LAD

6:40 p.m.

29

7

OAK

1:10 p.m.

14 OAK

20 COL 21 AZ

6:40 p.m.

27

KC

1:10 p.m.

28

CLE

59

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

SPRING TRAINING 2020 OAKLAND ATHLETICS

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Hohokam Stadium 1235 N. Center Street, Mesa 480.644.4451 hohokamstadium.com oaklandas.com

Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria 623.773.8700 peoriaspringtraining.com padres.com

Game Schedule February/March

DESCRIPTION: Oakland A’s moved into Hohokam Stadium at the Chicago Cubs moved to Sloan Park in 2014. This is a reunion of sorts for the A’s, who held Spring Training in the old Rendezvous Park from 1969 to 1976, and were the first tenants in the original Hohokam Stadium built in 1977.

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Feb. 21

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

17 SF

24

MIL

AZ

1:10 p.m.

PARKING: Parking is $5 (general); $10 for oversized verhicles and RVs; handicapped parking is available. NO REFUNDS. Parking is limited; arrive early.

TICKETS: Tickets range from $18$52. Kids under 24 months free, but must sit on lap of ticketholder..

Mar. 1 KC

2

8

9

MIL

15

SD

22

TEX

25

16

SD

3

CWS

10

17

KC

LAA

24

30

26

27

AZ

1:10 p.m.

16:05 p.m.

23

29

BEST PLACE TO SIT: Most of the Terrace Box seats, sections 200 through 212, are shaded. Or grab a blanket and enjoy the outfield lawn. Ticketholders should make sure they’re within sight of the sweet HD

CHI

Friday

4

COL

5

11

LAA

12

LAD

1:10 p.m.

18

COL

25

LAD

19

SF

7:05 p.m.

26

28

6

13

CIN

CIN

TEX

Saturday

22

29

7

27

CLE

SEA

1:10 p.m.

14 MIL

7:05 p.m.

20 CWS

CHI

SEA 21

CHI

12:05 p.m

28

philosophy - man-aged concessions when the Cubs were a tenant, and will continue to do so for the A’s.

CONCESSIONS: Ovations Food Services with its “everything’s fresh”

PARKING: During Spring Training, parking is $5. Buses carrying groups are not charged for parking. Recreational vehicle parking is $10. Ride share pickups and drop offs can be accessed at Stadium Way. All overnight parking is prohibited.

TICKETS: Tickets range from $12-$33; peoriasportscomplex.com BEST PLACE TO SIT: For afternoon games, those seated in sections 205 to 219 and 105 to 121 on the thirdbase line and lawn seating in leftfield have the sun at their backs.

31

scoreboard diplay.

DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1994, the 12,000-plus-seat Peoria Sports Complex is home to the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.

CONCESSIONS: Beer, soft drinks, brats, hamburgers, hot dogs (including the “Ruthian foot-long”) and

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

MIL

24

Mar. 1 SF

2

8

9

1:10 p.m

CWS

1:10 p.m.

15 OAK 22

SEA

KC

CWS

LAD

LAA

25 OAK

26

3

4

1:10 p.m.

MIL

CHI

KC

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

10

CLE

1:10 p.m.

11 SEA

6:40 p.m.

27

17

18 LAD

LAA

1:10 p.m.

5

SEA

1:10 p.m.

12

CHI

6:05 p.m.

19

CIN

1:10 p.m.

23

Saturday

22

SEA

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

16

Friday

Feb. 21

CLE TEX

28

CHI

29

6:40 p.m.

6

TEX

6:40 p.m.

13

20

COL

SF

7

CIN

AZ

1:10 p.m.

14

AZ

1:10 p.m.

21

COL

6:40 p.m.

24

25

26

27

28

1:10 p.m. 12:05 p.m.

29

30

31

snacks. Great “beer mana” coverage in the stands.

TEXAS RANGERS

Surprise Stadium 15850 N. Bullard Avenue, Surprise 623.222.2222 surpriseaz.gov/files/springtraining texasrangers.com DESCRIPTION: The 2015 World Series champs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Texas Rangers share this 10,500seat Surprise Stadium that features a spectacular lawn.

The 124-acre site is routinely praised for its well-conceived design with lots of shaded seating.

PARKING: Parking is free.

TICKETS: Tickets range from $8$35. Children 2 and under are free, but must sit on a ticketholders lap.

623.222.2222, surprisespringtraining.com BEST PLACE TO SIT: Much of the stadium is shaded in the afternoon, but the infield upper deck provides canopied seating. The lawn is spacious and gives attendees plenty of room to spread out.

CONCESSIONS: Plenty of options, from cot-

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

23

SEA

24

1:10 p.m.

Mar. 1 LAD

2

8

9

15

LAD

LAA

CIN

CLE

OAK

6:05 p.m.

16

SEA

25

3

KC

SF

26

4

10 CWS

11

17

18

22

23

24

29

30

31

SF

25

COL

COL

SF

CLE

27

5

CHI AZ CHI

12

Friday

22

28

29 CWS

LAA

1:10 p.m.

6

SD

26

7

6:40 p.m.

13 OAK 14 7:05 p.m.

KC

19

Saturday

Feb. 21 TEX

6:05 p.m.

SD

20

27

CIN

MIL

MIL

AZ

1:10 p.m.

21

TEX

12:05 p.m.

28

ton candy to brats to beer.

Surprise also lets visitors bring in packaged food if it’s in a clear, sealed bag.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

60

FAMILY

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

FAMILY

CALENDAR Sara Edwards >> The Entertainer!

Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts

FEBRUARY 1 AND FEBRUARY 15 The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, jewelry, art, photography, handmade soaps and gifts. Macdonald is closed to traffic, but parking is available throughout Downtown Mesa. Festivals are the first and third Saturdays of the month from October to April.

On Macdonald, off of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, dtmesafest.com, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission.

Scottsdale Parada del Sol and Festival

FEBRUARY 8 Bring out your inner cowboy or cowgirl at the 67th annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol parade and festival’s 2020 event. This year’s theme of Western Legends will bring guests a traditional morning parade of horse-drawn carriages, wagons and stagecoaches. At the end of the parade path, spectators can enjoy the giant block party with food, games and pony rides.

Old Town Scottsdale down North Scottsdale Road, 602.320.1483, scottsdaleparade.com, 10 a.m. to noon (parade), noon to 4 p.m. (festival), free admission.

Family Fun Valentine’s Festival

FEBRUARY 8 Spread the love this Valentine’s

Day season with OdySea in the Desert at its family-friendly Valentine’s Festival. The festival will have live performances, games and bounce houses. Kids and their parents will also have the chance to win fun prizes through drawings with Date Night prizes for parents, too. The festival will also have crafts and cards to make for your special someone, with vendors, too, if your crafting skills are more scary than caring.

OdySea in the Desert, 9500 E. Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.951.2100, odyseainthedesert.com, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission.

Daddy and Me Valentine’s Day Tea

FEBRUARY 8 Nothing like getting all dressed up and looking spiffy for an afternoon of tea. Girly Girlz in Scottsdale will host a Daddy and Me Valentine’s Day Tea party for little girls and their fatherly figures for an afternoon tea party. Tea guests will enjoy a three-course tea party along with keepsake crafts, dancing and photos.

Girly Girlz, 15425 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 240, Scottsdale, 480.998.4832, girlygirlzaz.com, 3 to 4 p.m., $16.95 per guest.

Arizona Indian Festival

FEBRUARY 8 AND FEBRUARY 9 Celebrate and learn about the 22 Native American tribes in Arizona at this family-friendly, two-day festival. Festival visitors can walk through native villages, enjoy live storytelling and performances from Native elders and eat traditional foods like fresh fry

bread. Along with kids activities, there will also be music and art demonstrations to enjoy while shopping through an artisan market.

Scottsdale Civic Center Park, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, arizonaindiantourism. org, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. February 8, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

February 9, free admission.

Valentine’s Eve Date Night

FEBRUARY 13 What’s more romantic than taking a quiet evening stroll through a butterfly garden with your special someone while sharing chocolatecovered strawberries? Butterfly Wonderland is spreading the love a little early this year at its Valentine’s Eve Date Night, where couples can enjoy chocolatecovered fruit and give a sweet goodnight to the butterflies before they go to bed. Couples will watch “Flight of the Butterflies” on the venue’s full-screen movie theater.

Butterfly Wonderland, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.800.3000, butterflywonderland.com, 5:30 to 8 p.m., $50 per couple.

Valentine Tea Party with Elsa and Anna

FEBRUARY 14 What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with two of Disney’s favorite princesses Elsa and Anna? Children ages 3 and older will have a lovely afternoon of tea, music and stories with Anna and Elsa complete with a photo op, pretend tea, Valentine cookies and finger sandwiches. While having tea and food, the “Frozen” sisters will tell stories and sing.

Mrs. Potts Tea Party, 264 W. Second Street, Mesa, 480.827.0654, mrspottsteaparty. com, 10 to 11 a.m., $20.

Angry Crab Shack Southwest Cajun Fest

The Angry Crab Shack Southwest Cajun Fest returns to Downtown Chandler to celebrate New Orleans’ food, music and culture. Enjoy Cajun classics like jambalaya or fried catfish while live blues and jazz musicians play, or take a picture in the Mardi Gras-themed photo booth after chewing your way to victory in one of the food-eating competitions.

Instantly you’ll feel transported to the vibrant, cultural New Orleans at this Cajun celebration.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 250 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, southwestcajunfest. com, noon to 9 p.m., $8-$45.

I Love Science Day

FEBRUARY 15 The Arizona Museum of Natural History is celebrating all things science this February with experiments, demonstrations and crafts for the aspiring scientist.

Visitors will watch live science experiments, share and exchange science fair ideas, and participate in science activities that bring out your true inner scientist.

Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa, 480.644.2230, arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory. org, 9 to 11 a.m., $7 per person at the door, free for members.

Arizona Matsuri 2020

FEBRUARY 22 AND FEBRUARY 23 With its new location at Steele Indian School Park, Arizona Matsuri Festival hosts a vibrant festival themed “samurai,” the military officer caste of early-modern Japan.

The festival will have tons of live demonstrations, performances and music while enjoying Japanese cuisine and shopping vendors.

Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, azmatsuri.org, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission is free.

FEBRUARY 15

THE FUN RISES IN THE WEST. OPENING FEBRUARY 19 | 8PM DDCAZ.COM

An Enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

A Cirque to Remember THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

61

‘Ovo’ is high-wire fun for English performer Christopher Boan >> The Entertainer!

T

he world’s preeminent destination for jawdropping displays of trapeze arts and assorted flights of fancy brings a new storyboard to the Valley in February.

Cirque du Soleil, which has performed across the globe since 1984, brings “Ovo” to Phoenix for the first time, with the shows running from Thursday, February 20, to Sunday, February 23.

“Ovo,” which means “egg” in Portuguese, revolves around an ecosystem of insects that’s full of life and color, where the specimen interact and live out their lives in a fun-filled manner.

The show, which debuted in arenas in 2016, has toured all over North America, Europe and South America, with more than 6 million people taking in the show was conceptualized.

“Ovo” is a labor of love for aerialists like Beth Williams, who has been on tour with the cast and crew of the exhibition for three months.

Williams learned her high-wire act as a child in England, where she enrolled in various ballet classes and schools.

Her career progressed from there, auditioning for full-time dance school, before deciding a change was necessary.

Williams decided to take trapeze classes at a circus school in London, training all day, every day.

The hardcore training landed Williams a gig with Cirque du Soleil out of school.

Williams calls touring with Cirque du Soleil a dream come true, as she’s able to do a host of feats that are physically

demanding and awe-inspiring.

So far, Williams has traveled to 19 cities across 15 states on this round with “Ovo.” It’s a demanding task, but one she’s thrilled to undertake.

Such an extensive touring routine would be draining for the artists that make the show possible, were it not for a series of breaks that allow performers to catch their breath.

Williams says the demands of touring are real, but a reality that staff is willing to accept.

“It’s absolutely amazing. We usually have one or two days off, so we try to get around the cities or the towns that we’re in and get a feel for things, then after that we go into shows,” Williams says.

“So, we do get a chance to look around a little bit as well, which is great.”

“Ovo” might be Cirque du Soleil’s most daring performance to date, with 52 performing artists from 14 countries undertaking a litany of acrobatics.

The show features more than 10 types of high-level acrobatic acts, including

mainstays like foot juggling and Icarian games, as well as hand balancing, contortion, aerial straps, slack wire and Russian cradle, to name a few.

The performance is the brainchild of artistic guides Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix, who dreamed up a world where insects can be the central characters of a universe, instead of the pests they’re often made out to be in other shows.

“Ovo” includes subversive elements, such as a moment where an awkward and gangly insect enters the ecosystem, only to have a meeting with a sumptuous ladybug, among other encounters highlighted in the performance.

Williams believes “Ovo” is the perfect show for parents and children, as it features a one-of-a-kind mix of acrobatics and life lessons that are sure to amaze.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity because it’s such a unique show and it’s such a spectacular night full of acrobatics, aerials, amazing music, colorful costumes,” Williams says. “And it’s a

really fun show to bring all the family, and to bring a child to as well.”

Williams says each night of the Phoenix show will feature unique elements, to keep the performances fresh for performers and viewers.

She believes the current iteration of “Ovo” is the most polished version, with each night bringing greater energy and creativity.

“Over time, we do try to make it better. So, we’ll be performing the same thing on stage, but backstage, we’re trying new things,” Williams says.

“We’re trying to make things more difficult or crazier. So, with time that does also evolve.”

The evolution keeps Williams enthralled, as the tour grinds along, with the wonder of trapeze arts and the pulse-pounding allure of high-wire acts keeping her on her toes each night.

There’s nowhere else that Williams would rather be, however, as there’s nothing quite as exhilarating, demanding and enjoyable as being on stage under the bright lights of the stage.

“The stage is where it all comes alive, because the lights are very big and exciting compared to our setup work,” Williams says. “So, I think it’s just that, because the scale of the show is just huge. Everything you’re doing is really exciting.”

Cirque du Soleil’s “Ovo” Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, cirquedusoleil. com, various times Thursday, February 20, to Sunday, February 23, tickets start at $45, with family packs available.

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

62

MUSIC

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR Connor Dziawura >> The Entertainer!

I, Pariah

Club Red West, 6 p.m., $10

Kid Ramos & the 44s

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$64.50

Leo Kottke

Pinegrove

Necrotek & Cipher

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $27.50-$30

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $24

FEBRUARY 4

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $11-$21

Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns

The Psychedelephants

Atmosphere

Sareena Dominguez

C.W. Stoneking

TobyMac

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $26 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

George Winston

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $8 Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $19.75-$89.75

FEBRUARY 8

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $8-$10

Black Tiger Sex Machine w/Vampa, Blanke

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $33.50-$43.50

FEBRUARY 5

Dermot Kennedy

Edge Happy Hour: LuMar

ASU Kerr, 7:30 p.m., $20-$30

The Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10

David Huckfelt and Pieta Brown

Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free

Hayley Kiyoko

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$40

HorrorPops

The Nile, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Roger’s Tom Jones with the Motown Blossoms

Chandler Center for the Arts, 7 p.m., $28-$38

Ron Pope

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$75

School of Rock

The Rebel Lounge, 11 a.m., $10

Soulfly

Marquee Theatre, 5:45 p.m., $26-$56

Surf Through Death w/Stone Witch, El Googly Diablo Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $10-$20

The Zeppelin IV w/The Smokin’ Crowes

National Park Radio

Carmela y Más Chris Lane

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$28

Mortiis

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Tanya Tagaq

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $54.50-$69.50

Tomorrows Bad Seeds Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $10

FEBRUARY 3 George Winston

The Hot Sardines

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $26-$69

Katia and Nina Cardenal

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $23.50-$33.50

K-Bong

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $15

North Mississippi Allstars

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$35

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14

The Glorious Sons

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$64.50

Jasper Bones

Las Cafeteras

ASU Kerr, 7:30 p.m., $20-$30

Murder by Death

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $20-$25

Part Time w/Gary Wilson Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $15

Terry Riley with Gyan Riley

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $38.50-$54.50

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Sonrisa

FEBRUARY 13

Skin Ticket

Stateline

Vader

Super Whatevr

The New Pornographers

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $30-$45 Marquee Theatre, 9 p.m., $21-$41 The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10 Club Red East, 6 p.m., $20-$25

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $11-$32 Club Red East, 8 p.m., $10 Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $13

Xavier Omär

Chris Farren

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Dennis Jones

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $12

The Gatlin Brothers

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $22-$30

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m., sold out

Armin van Buuren

FEBRUARY 9

Lil Tjay

Bob Marley’s 75th Birthday Celebration w/The 602 Band, Walt Richardson, Dee Dread

The 69 Eyes

Khani Cole

All That Jazz

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$45

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $10

Club Red East, 6 p.m., $25

Adrian Marcel

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $20-$55

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $33.50-$38.50

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 3 p.m., $16-$25

FEBRUARY 7

Club Red West, 6 p.m., $13

Bodysnatcher

Church of Misery

Garza

Classic Albums Live Performs The Eagles’ “Hotel California”

Jam Session: Beth Lederman

Club Red East, 7 p.m., $18-$20

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

Dashboard Confessional

Outlier

Edge Happy Hour: House of Stairs

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $12-$14

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $25-$45

Chandler Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $36-$42

Clementine Was Right w/Matt Vandal, Until the Sun, Revizor

GosT

The Adicts

Nellie McKay

Club Red West, 7 p.m., $23

FEBRUARY 2

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $32-$35

FEBRUARY 11

Fred Eaglesmith Traveling Show Starring Tif Ginn Crescent Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $25-$99

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $50-$60

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$54.50

FEBRUARY 12

The Doo Wop Project

Pub Rock Live, 7:30 p.m., $12

Club Red East, 6 p.m., $18

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50-$228.50

The Rhythm Room, 6 p.m., $20

FEBRUARY 6

Eric Nam

The Van Buren, 9 p.m., $25-$40

Crobot

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

FEBRUARY 10

Marc E. Bassy

Ángela Aguilar

Bob Ravenscroft Trio

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $16

Periphery

The Lunchbox, 9 p.m., $12-$15

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50

Zack Villere

Hands Like Houses

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $9.33-$12

FEBRUARY 1 Black Violin

Arizona Federal Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $72.50-$182.50

Luna Aura

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $48.50-$289

Stray Kids

The Van Buren, 7:30 p.m., $35-$38 Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$30 The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$10, or free for instrumentalists and vocalists who sit in

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $30-$130

Lloyd Cole

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

Nightly

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $14

FEBRUARY 14 Acoustic Hot Tuna w/Dick Boak

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$69.50

Crush Arizona

Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, 6 p.m., $49-$79

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Edge Happy Hour: People Who Could Fly

Leo Kottke

The Gatlin Brothers

Chandler Center for the Arts, 3 p.m., $18-$48 Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$54.50

Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., sold out

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Govinda

Walk Off the Earth

Totally ’80s Music w/The Motels

Jonny Lang

We’ve Only Just Begun: Songs of the Carpenters

Vale of Pnath

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $15-$50 Chandler Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $38-$48

Karrin Allyson

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $21-$60

Michael Feinstein

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $39-$86

Ralna English

ASU Kerr, 7:30 p.m., $27-$45

Renée Fleming

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 8 p.m., $55-$110

Teddy Swims

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Valentine’s Super Love Jam

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., $30.50-$52.50

The World/Inferno Friendship Society w/Bridge City Sinners Club Red West, 7 p.m., $15-$17

Young Dolph & Key Glock

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $30-$150

FEBRUARY 15 Acoustic Hot Tuna w/Dick Boak

The Van Buren, 7:30 p.m., $35-$64

Chandler Center for the Arts, 3 p.m., $30

FEBRUARY 17 Marcia Ball and Sonny Landreth Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$64.50

FEBRUARY 18 Andy Shauf

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20

Davina and the Vagabonds w/Hot Club of Cowtown

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50

Ingested

Club Red East, 6 p.m., $15-$17

Lucky Devils

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., free

Ross the Boss

Club Red West, 6:30 p.m., $20

Marcia Ball and Sonny Landreth Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $49.50-$64.50

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$69.50

Wish You Were Here

Bad Omens

Pub Rock Live, 7:30 p.m., $15-$20

FEBRUARY 19

The Bittersweet Way

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $27-$57

The Rebel Lounge, 5:30 p.m., $8-$10

Edge Happy Hour: Josiel Perez’s Afro-Cuban All-Stars Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free

GayC/DC

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $15-$35

Sarah McLachlan

Arizona Federal Theatre, 8 p.m., $46-$66

That1Guy

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $15

Tito Puente Jr. and the Rico Monaco Band

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $20-$35

Valentine’s Day Blues Celebration w/Steve Cropper, Andy T Band with Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Monster Mike Welch, Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers, Alastair Greene, Chris “Bad News” Barnes, Mike Eldred, Bob Corritore The Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $25

Ward Davis

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $20-$60

The Westerlies

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

Dark Star Orchestra Drakulas

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14

iyla

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$50

FEBRUARY 20 Minnesota

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $21

Poppy

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $25.25

So Below

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $7-$10

Whole Milk w/Bulletproof Backpacks The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

William DuVall (of Alice in Chains)

Chucky Chuck Henchlord Pub Rock Live, 7:30 p.m., $15

Edge Happy Hour: The Benjamin Cortez Band

Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Chandler Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $38-$58

Francine Reed

Illiterate Light

Frankie Valli

Little People w/Frameworks, Yppah

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $14

Dee Dee Bridgewater: “Dear Ella”—A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

Matoma & Two Friends

Dylan LeBlanc

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

Ekali

The Van Buren, 9 p.m., $22-$32

Flor de Toloache

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 8 p.m., $30-$38

Wishbone Ash

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $30

Lorie Line

The Doo Wop Project

Soil

Hot Snakes

The Sugar Thieves

Igor & the Red Elvises

The Used

Lila Downs

FEBRUARY 23

Michael Bolton

Chandler Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $59 Club Red East, 6 p.m., $20 The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10 Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Al Raitano

The Nash, 3 p.m., $23-$35

Arizona Roots Music & Arts Festival

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $18-$20

Mesa Arts Center’s 7:30 p.m., $35-$45 The Rebel Lounge, 9 p.m., $26-$30 The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10 Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $69.50-$85.50 Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., sold out

FEBRUARY 28

Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, noon, $65-$629

Aurelio Voltaire

bbno$

Diunna Greenleaf

Lucia Micarelli

Edge Happy Hour: Maracutaia

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., sold out Chandler Center for the Arts, 7 p.m., $38-$58

Magic City Hippies

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $17.50

Riders in the Sky

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Travis Tritt

Club Red West, 7 p.m., $16-$20 The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15 Tempe Center for the Arts, 6 p.m., free

The Family Crest

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $15

Lila Downs

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $69.50-$85.50

Mike and the Moonpies

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$16

Ramirez

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $16

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 7 p.m., $39-$69

Tuena Marie and Friends

FEBRUARY 24

FEBRUARY 29

Electric Guest

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $17

Jack Broadbent

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $23.50-$33.50

Steep Canyon Rangers

Highlands Church, 7:30 p.m., $26-$59

Taffeta, Darling

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10

Thrice

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Club Red West, 6 p.m., $13

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime

Club Red West, 6 p.m., $15

Phil Vassar

Simply Three

Omar Sosa and Yilian Cañizares: Aguas Trio w/Gustavo Ovalles

Intronaut

Al Jardine

Spite

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$30

FEBRUARY 27

Phora

The Nash, 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., $16-$65

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $18-$33

FEBRUARY 25

Renee Rosnes Trio

Colony House Drama

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $59.50-$80.50

The Aggrolites

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20

Izaak Opatz

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $8-$10

FEBRUARY 26

Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $30-$38

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $15-$22

The Noodles

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$100

The Chloe Feoranzo Quartet

Hippie Gold Tribute Band

The Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

TWRP

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Musical Instrument Museum, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $25-$45

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $59.50-$79.50

Have Mercy

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $17-$20

Lower Dens

63

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $22-$25

Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, noon, $65-$629

FEBRUARY 21

Georgia on My Mind: Celebration of Ray Charles and His Music

ASU Gammage, 7:30 p.m., $49-$80

Arizona Roots Music & Arts Festival

Transviolet

FEBRUARY 16

The Nash, 3 p.m., $16-$36

FEBRUARY 22

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $20

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $11-$31

The Rhythm Room, 3 p.m., $15

Club Red West, 6 p.m., $13-$15

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $44.50-$54.50

El West

Booze Bombs w/Whiskey Kiss, The Octanes

The Van Buren, 7:30 p.m., $25-$28

Pup w/Screaming Females, The Drew Thomson Foundation

ASU Kerr, 7:30 p.m., $20-$30

Ali Tomineek

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $48-$1,000

Dave Hause & the Mermaid

The Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$17

David Sanborn Quartet

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $38.50-$53.50

Joan

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $13

Joseph

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $26-$99

Mindex

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$18

Soul Power Band

The Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10

The Texas Tenors

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $55-$75

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

64

UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING

Whimsical and Sarcastic Nellie McKay brings broad repertoire to Chandler

Laura Latzko >> The Entertainer!

I

n today’s music climate, having a voice that fits within multiple platforms is important. For singer Nellie McKay, versatility has come naturally.

McKay will return to the Valley to perform at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 8.

McKay is known for her vocal abilities, her whimsical and sarcastic lyrics and her blending of different musical styles.

Throughout her career, the singersongwriter, author and actress has reached the top 10 numerous times on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums charts and collaborated twice with Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick.

Her music has appeared on “Mad Men,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Rumor Has It,” “Monster In Law,” Weeds” and “Boardwalk Empire.” As an actress, she appeared as Ciara in the film “P.S. I Love You” and Ramona in “Downtown Express.”

In October, McKay released her latest EP, “Bagatelles,” a companion to the fulllength album “Sister Orchid.”

On the EP, she performs standards such as “How About You?” “Up a Lazy River,” “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” “Rockabye Your Baby” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo Dah.” “There are so many wonderful songs that have been written that you try to cover, that you want to live up to. It’s all there in the song. You just have to get out of the way,” McKay says.

McKay says the EP is different from its sister album because she used a ukulele, an instrument she says is good to play in bed.

She was also going for a more serene sound.

“It was pretty light and breezy, music you could sing to yourself by the riverbank,” McKay says.

During many of her recent performances, McKay has been doing music from this album.

“It’s a solo album, so it’s easy to take on the road. My band eats too much when they are on the road. It is easier doing solo shows, in a way, but when they are around, it’s a party,” McKay jokes.

Along with her new music, she has also been performing songs from her other albums.

In Chandler, she hopes to create an intimate feeling, where the audience feels involved in the show.

“I welcome hecklers or people who want to dance or sing along. The more the merrier,” McKay says.

McKay encourages listeners to make requests during the show.

“The venue informs the show, and the people who come and what they want to hear inform the show,” McKay says.

“When you go to a concert, a lot of times you want to hear that one song. As much as we can honor that, I like to.”

She hopes audiences will smile and laugh along with her during her performances.

“I try to just make people happy with the music. You try to be a song-and-dance man. We aim to entertain,” McKay says.

Born in London and raised in Harlem, McKay first played the piano and later started singing.

She released her debut double album, “Get Away from Me,” in 2004, the same

year she toured with Barenaked Ladies and Alanis Morissette. She was a finalist for the Shortlist Music Prize.

McKay has been influenced by a range of styles and performers, including legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. McKay has had a multifaceted career. Along with her solo music, she has performed in and written music for film, TV and theater.

She won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum in “The Threepenny Opera” and co-created and starred in the award-winning vaudevillestyle show “Old Hats.”

Her third album, “Obligatory Villagers,” was the inspiration for a ballet by the Chase Brock Experience.

She also touted by critics for her music for and performance in Ethan Coen’s “A Play is a Poem.”

Along with her music, McKay is an advocate on social and political issues affecting people around the world. She received PETA’s Humanitarian Award for

For Her

Country’s Chris Lane has ‘big, big plans’ with Lauren Bushnell Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

C

hris Lane is a happy man.

He recently married Lauren Bushnell of “The Bachelor” fame on October 25, and the two adopted a puppy, Cooper.

“We’re excited,” says Lane, who was

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featured in People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue. “We’re getting settled into our new home now. We don’t have a whole lot.

“Our puppy is the best. We rescued him not too long ago. He’s 8 months old.

He’s the sweetest pup in the entire world.

He definitely appreciates the fact that we rescued him. He is spoiled rotten right now.”

Lane has returned to the road as

her work with animal rights causes.

She is also passionate about civil and women’s rights issues. McKay doesn’t bring politics into her music these days, but her songbook does contain politically themed songs such as “Ridiculous.”

She continues to be highly involved in politics, which has helped her to evolve as a person and singer/songwriter.

“It’s just wonderful all the people that you work with, and they change you. I’ve been to so many states, and when you canvas, you feel the Earth beneath your feet. You know this country so much better. I think that does more to inform your music than practicing,” McKay says.

Nellie McKay Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 8, $36 to $42.

well, planning to hit The Van Buren in Phoenix on Wednesday, February 5, with Blanco Brown and Ernest.

“I can’t wait to escape the freezing cold and snow,” Lane says. “I also love to golf, and there are a lot of great golf courses out there. I plan on doing a little bit of that before the show.”

Lane calls himself a “decent” golfer who’s “not on a pro level, by any means.”

“I have fun and it’s one of my favorite things to do in the entire world,” Lane says. “I go out in the late afternoon and play twilight golf. It’s so peaceful and relaxing. It’s a good way to really think through your thoughts.”

The year 2019 was stellar for Lane.

Not only did he marry, but he toured with Brad Paisley. His resume also includes stints with Rascal Flatts and Florida Georgia Line. He’s on his own headlining jaunt now.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

65

PUSHING CULTURE FORWARD How K-pop’s Eric Nam is breaking into the mainstream Olivia Munson >> The Entertainer! rom hosting two podcasts to performing across the globe, K-pop singer Eric Nam has accomplished a lot within his seven-year career.

Nam rose to fame after placing in the top 5 on the popular South Korean program “Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star 2.”

However, nothing has meant more to the Atlanta-born singer than his North American leg of his Before We Begin tour.

“My goal and dream were always to work in the States. I came to Korea because it was the only place that gave me an opportunity to become a musician,” Nam says.

Nam is ready to return to the road and perform new places, like Phoenix, where he plays The Van Buren on Sunday, February 2. Nam is one of the few K-pop acts to perform in the Valley, and he believes that most artists tend to overlook the city.

“Phoenix was a place I was really adamant on going to,” he says. He recommended the city to management after friends and fans begged for it.

“And here we are,” he says.

Nam’s last U.S. tour was two years ago, so fans can expect a completely different show, complete with music, dancing and comedy. Nam is trying his best to incorporate “bodyrollage” throughout the set.

With K-pop, it is a lot more than music; it’s a culture and lifestyle. When it comes to idol production, Nam believes the common denominator is choreography in arenas. As a solo artist, Nam finds this is not always achievable.

“There are limits to what I can carry on my own performing, as opposed to splitting it up amongst seven or eight or 10 people,” he says.

To set himself apart from other acts, Nam uses his “weapon of choice”— conversation.

“I do my shows in English wherever I am, except Korea. In Asia, English is going to be a second, if not third, language for a lot of people. Connecting with people is a lot easier in the U.S. and Canada,” Nam says.

So Phoenix, be prepared for “storytelling, a mini TedTalk, almost like a lecture.”

“I want this tour to be a celebration not only for me, but for the people who come to show and spending their time and energy to come hang out with me,” he says.

Nam wants his fans to walk away feeling good, confident and with a love for the show and what he brings to the stage.

The tour’s namesake comes from Nam’s latest album, released last November. “Before We Begin” is his first full-English album, and Nam hopes it can pave the way for him to come back to the States.

Each song reflects a different period within a relationship—the love, breakup and regret—whether it is the existentialism of “Love Die Young” or lightheartedness of “You’re Sexy I’m Sexy.”

Though he did not intend to portray this entire spectrum, Nam simply wanted to create music that was true to him and his sound, regardless of the message.

“Putting an English album out is a way to move culture forward,” he says. “To help break down those barriers and those preconceived notions of what Asian and Asian American can do.”

Growing up in Atlanta, Nam did not see many like him within mainstream media. Not until recently did Nam begin to see representation diversified.

“When I first started my career, those opportunities weren’t there. The social media networks that have really catapulted K-pop and Asian faces into the main sphere of entertainment weren’t readily available,” he explains.

Since then, American culture has

drastically changed, and Nam is happy people are beginning to embrace those who look and sound different than them.

“Music and entertainment do not have to be in your native tongue. It doesn’t have to look like you,” he says.

As K-pop continues to grow, Nam hopes people come to understand the genre is all encompassing.

“Within (K-pop) you have multiple layers of idols, solo artists, R&B and jazz. Right now, I think the focus is on the big groups with purple hair and flashy jackets,” he says. “There are incredibly talented R&B and solo artists, and hopefully people will get to dive into the deeper realms of K-pop.”

Though he is performing all around the world, Nam wishes to push more content out in the United States, whether it’s through music, film or television.

Nam has plenty planned for the future—more music, podcasts and

digital work—and he hopes to prove the naysayers wrong.

“There is so much room for representation and growth for Asian and Asian Americans and anybody of diversity to be shown in American media,” he says.

And with the show in Phoenix, Nam plans to make his mark.

“To be one of the first (K-pop acts in Phoenix) is an honor, and hopefully I put on a show that is a great first impression for a lot of people and gets people more into K-pop and the music scene,” he says.

“I learned a lot along the way,” he says about the Paisley tour. “The energy’s been great. My show is a highly energized show. I throw some fun covers in there that people will know. I hope people will walk away saying, ‘Man, I want to see that guy again.’

“With Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line and Brad Paisley, everyone has a common theme. They don’t take themselves too seriously. The crowd reacts to that. It helps me show my personality and people walk away from that having had a good time.”

Lane’s latest single is “Big, Big Plans,” a song he penned for Bushnell. Cowritten with Jacob Durrett and Ernest K. Smith, “Big, Big Plans” has amassed 47 million streams. The song has had a curious effect on audiences.

“I’ve had, on this first leg of the tour, 15 to 18 proposals—one every night— which was really cool,” Lane says.

“It’s cool that they’re taking it and making it their own story and plugging it in that way. They’re literally taking my song and applying it to their lives and to their own story.”

“Big, Big Plans” follows his second No. 1 single, the gold-certified “I Don’t Know About You,” which topped the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts. It racked up 290 million-plus overall streams. The music video has surpassed 50 million views since its premier on CMT’s “Hot 20 Countdown” and was Vevo’s mostviewed country music video for multiple weeks.

Lane will tour until he heads out with Kane Brown on “The Worldwide Beautiful Tour,” an opportunity he’s

definitely appreciative of.

“It’s a great opportunity to just continue touring and continue playing in front of a lot of people,” he says. “I’ve been so blessed and so lucky to be able to go out and tour with the guys.”

F

Eric Nam The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx. com, 8 p.m. Sunday, February 2, tickets start at $32.

Chris Lane w/Blanco Brown and Ernest The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, thevanburenphx. com, 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, $25-$28.

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66

NIGHTLIFE

SIP » UNLEASH » MIX » MINGLE » PULSE » SHAKE tickets start at $25, 18 and older.

NIGHTLIFE

CALENDAR Haley Lorenzen >> The Entertainer!

Dillon Nathaniel

FEBRUARY 1 Growing up with a father who instilled an early appreciation in EDM music in his son, Dillon Nathaniel was inspired to start producing house music after attending EDC when he was 16 years old. Since then, this young DJ has become a technical wizard in the house music scene. Nathaniel’s quirky, unconventional beats have caught the attention of artists such as Malaa and Tchami and he has quickly become a rising star in the production of dance music.

Shady Park, 26 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.474.4222, shadyparktempe.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $15, 21 and older.

Zía & Sippy

FEBRUARY 1 DJs Zía, hailing from Philadelphia, and Sippy, originally from Sydney, are two of the hottest up-andcoming DJs on the scene right now.

The two are kicking off February by bringing their Deviate tour right here to Tempe, where you can catch both of their heavy, bass-forward sets. Both DJs will be joined by openers Vayn and Andero, while fans can also be entered to win Decadence 2020 tickets at the show.

AURA, 411 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 201, Tempe, 480.210.2872, auratempe.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $10, 18 and older.

Armin van Buuren

FEBRUARY 6 One of the biggest names in the

EDM world, specifically the trance movement, this Grammy-nominated DJ has spent the last 20 years racking up awards and producing dance hits. Originally from the Netherlands, Armin van Buuren has been ranked the No. 1 DJ by DJ Mag a record five times, and he hosts the radio show “A State of Trance.”

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx. com, 9 p.m., sold out.

Bardz

FEBRUARY 7 Based right here in Phoenix, this producer is known for his hypnotic, emotive beats, which he says are inspired by artists such as Pink Floyd and Odesza. This DJ, born Tyler Bardzilowski, has made a name for himself performing with big names such as Illenium and Deadmau5.

Shady Park, 26 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.474.4222, shadyparktempe.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $10, 21 and older.

Black Tiger Sex Machine

FEBRUARY 8 A Black Tiger Sex Machine show is so much more than a typical DJ set.

This Montreal-based trio is known for producing fierce, bass-heavy dubstep, which it incorporates into its shows with a synchronized light show, all while performing as a three-piece band. The group is also known for its independent dance music label, Kannibalen Records, which has signed artists such as Kai Wachi and Dabin.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx.com, 9 p.m.,

Eli & Fur

FEBRUARY 8 Transcendent beats and lush vocals are a mainstay of this Londonbased duo, whose deep house tracks have racked up millions of streams since its debut release in 2014. The two producers, Eliza Noble and Jennifer Skillman, began their careers together as songwriters while still teenagers.

Since then, they’ve received several awards and have produced tracks for companies such as Kayak.

Shady Park, 26 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.474.4222, shadyparktempe.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $20, 21 and older.

Crush Arizona 2020

FEBRUARY 14 Not sure where to spend your Valentine’s Day this year? How about at one of the year’s hottest festivals: Crush Arizona. With headlining DJs Audien, Habstrakt, Jauz, Carbin and Tynan, the night is sure to be full of beats for every taste. Whether you’re bringing someone special or rolling solo, you’ll be dancing the night away at Crush Arizona.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide.com, 6 p.m., tickets start at $59, 18 and older.

Arizona Roots 2020

FEBRUARY 22 AND FEBRUARY 23 The second annual Arizona Roots Festival is coming to the Valley, where dozens of artists will perform over two days. With a focus on reggae and rock artists, headliners include Damian Marley, Rebelution, Tribal Seeds, Steel Pulse, Collie Buddz, The Expendables, Hirie and Iya Terra. The Arizona Roots Festival is organized by the same team that has organized the esteemed California Roots Festival, which has taken place

The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment

annually for the last 10 years.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide.com, 6 p.m., tickets start at $99, all ages.

Ekali

FEBRUARY 22 This Canadian producer is hard to pin down. From hard-hitting trap to melodic house, Ekali’s tracks cover a wide range of genres within the dance music scene. Ekali began his career as a musician after beginning to play the violin at age 12, and he has since developed his own unique sound. Born Nathan Shaw, this DJ has worked with artists such as Denzel Curry and Illenium, and even received songwriting credits on Drake’s mixtape “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” in 2015.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $22, 18 and older.

Eli Brown

FEBRUARY 29 Eli Brown’s gritty, fast-paced tracks have skyrocketed this U.K.-based DJ to fame, landing him as the one of the best-selling artists on Beatport. Having racked up millions of streams since his first release only three years ago, Eli Brown shows no signs of slowing down.

Shady Park, 26 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.474.4222, shadyparktempe.com, 9 p.m., tickets start at $15, 21 and older.

PHX METRO » JULY 2019

THE

MASTROS

Sultans of Steak

SHINEDOWN

entertainermag.com

Now Inside

MAD MIXOLOGIST A THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

67

Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer!

gave del Scottsdale is an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar that unites the country’s fresh spices. At the bar’s helm is Mexican native Fernando Bernal, who mixes his heritage with the drinks.

We recently had the chance to sit down with Bernal and get his backstory on how his career started and why Agave del Scottsdale is the right place for everyone to be.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A BARTENDER AND HOW IT BROUGHT YOU TO ARIZONA. I’ve been bartending for about 20 years. Most of my life I lived in California, and I moved here about a year ago. Honestly, when I moved, I thought I was not going to stay in the industry. I wanted to do something different. But I came here and what I went to school for wasn’t flat out what I wanted to do. I heard about this place and how they were going to open something different for the neighborhood and Arizona. I’m from Mexico City and I could relate to some of the dishes that they’re bringing here.

So I came here, talked to a general manager and we put our thoughts together and came up with some of the drinks we offer here. The rest is history.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ODDEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD. The places I have worked have not really been where you make exotic drinks.

The funny thing about

this industry is that a lot of the times customers don’t know exactly what they are looking for. There was a time when a lady came in and asked me for a drink that had eggs in it. I knew there were quite a few drinks nowadays that use eggs, like the yolk, but we’re not that type of place. I haven’t really even played around with that idea.

what I do, most likely I wouldn’t be here. I know a lot of people are in it for the money. It bothers me when like people do not share the same passion.

Regardless of what it is, whether you are working in a fancy place or just a little mom-and-pop shop, you should always enjoy what you do. Otherwise, what is the point?

WHAT’S YOUR NO. 1 PET PEEVE WHEN WORKING?

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO DRINK WHEN YOU’RE AT A BAR OTHER THAN YOUR OWN?

One thing you’ll find about me is that I’m passionate about what I do. If I didn’t enjoy

CUCUMBER AND CILANTRO MARGARITA 2 ounces tequila 3/4 ounce of lime juice 3/4 ounce of agave nectar 2 slices of cucumber About 10 sliced leaves of cilantro Tajin to rim the glass Muddle the cucumber and cilantro together in a shaker. Then combine the rest of the elements in the shaker.

Before straining into a glass, rim the glass with lime juice and then Tajin. Pour the drink in the glass and garnish with a lime slice on the side.

I’m a very simple guy. I’m like a Jack and a beer kind of guy. My favorite tequila is going to be Siete Leguas reposado. So basically tequilas go into three stages: blancos, reposados and añejos. The reposado is one of my favorite tequilas. If I go to a bar with my wife or with friends, you’ll most likely find me drinking my shot of tequila with a beer.

WHAT DOES ORDERING A VODKA TONIC SAY ABOUT A PERSON? It says that someone is simple.

Someone who likes simple things. A lot of people nowadays are going toward those drinks because they don’t have the calories. You can’t mess that up.

TELL ME ABOUT THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM AT AGAVE DEL SCOTTSDALE. All of our margaritas are made with fresh lime juice and agave nectar—all fresh ingredients. We don’t buy syrups.

We don’t buy Schnapps that a lot of people use for the drinks. Everything here is fresh. We use fresh fruit, fresh lime juice and agave nectar, which most people pretend they have but they really don’t.

WHAT IS ONE COCKTAIL YOU WOULD LOVE FOR US TO FEATURE IN THE MAGAZINE? Cucumber and Cilantro Margarita ($11)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS DRINK? It’s one of the most refreshing things and it’s a year-round drink that you can have. Whether it is summer or winter, it is always a good drink to have. I love watching the expression of our guests when they are taking a sip because the flavors of the cilantro and the cucumber go really hand in hand with each other.

As soon as you say cilantro in a drink, most people are like not so thrilled by the idea. But then all of a sudden you try it and you’re like, “Wow.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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IN CLOSING

FUN » FACTS » LEARN » SHARE » PLAY

YOU’RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS

Bizarro facts that will stretch your noggin

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!

✔ The D-backs lost their very first game to Colorado, 9-2, on March 31, 1998. ✔ Chase Field is 1,100 feet above sea level. ✔ The stadium cost $354 million to build. ✔ The D-backs paid a $130 million franchise fee to Major League Baseball. ✔ The roof at Chase Field takes 4.5 minutes to open and close. ✔ Jay Bell was officially the first Diamondback to sign his contract in 1998. ✔ Chase Field’s architect was Ellerbe Becket. ✔ The capacity of Chase Field is 48,633. ✔ The stadium’s retractable roof has 9 million pounds of structural steel. ✔ The D-backs’ pool holds 8,500 gallons of water.

BEST LUNCH UNDER $7.00 (Total Bill)

Thank You For Your Votes In This Year’s Best Of Mesa!

THE ORIGINAL FISH & CHIPS Family Owned & Operated Since 1947

Pete’s Has Been Serving Deep Fried Goodness For Over 72 Years!

The fish we serve is mild, flakey & delicious!

Even the kids love it!

Crispy white meat chicken tenders & nuggets Our onion rings are made fresh daily, never frozen! Burgers, Dogs & Burritos too!

22 South Mesa Drive, Mesa • 480.964.7242 3920 South Central, Phoenix • 602.268.1828 1017 East Apache Blvd, Tempe • 480.968.6265 4121 Nor th 44th Street, Phoenix • 602.840.0630 1111 East Buckeye, Phoenix • 602.252.9341 5516 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale • 623.937.6001 2628 West Van Buren, Phoenix • 602.278.3351 9309 West Van Buren, Tolleson • 623.936.3111

Our Prices Can’t Be Beat! 8 Convenient Locations Drive-Thru/Take-Out Our Specialty

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Featuring 125 accomplished fine artists and craftsmen from around the nation, the three day event guarantees its Featuring accomplished fine artists craftsmen Featuring from 125 accomplished fine artists and craftsmen fro patrons an125 unparalleled cultural experience withand amenities around the nation, theperformance three day art, event that include daily music, andguarantees trendy food, its around the nation, the three day event guarantees its wine andanbeer concessions. cultural The resortexperience also offers upscale patrons unparalleled with amenities patrons an unparalleled cultural experience with amenitie Restaurants patio dining.performance art, and trendy food, that include and daily music, that include daily music, performance art, and trendy food

wine beer concessions. wine and beer concessions. The resort also offers upscale Freeand Admission and Parking. The resort also offers upscale Restaurants patio dining.

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Tubac Festival of Arts February 5-9 12 Tubac Rd • Tubac, AZ

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